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Cfje  JFtrst 

American  Bung 


BY 

Gcovqz  Gordon  Ibastings 


1904 
The  Smart  Set  Publishing  Company 

LONDON  NEW  YORK 


COPYRIGHTED 

1904,          h    y 

THE  SMART  SET 

PUBLISHING    CO. 

0f 


CONTENTS 

BOOK   I 
THE  CAVE  OF  WHISPERS 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

I.  Dr.  Belden's  Establishment 1 

II.  "  Sleep  On,  My  Friends,  Sleep  On  "     .     .     13 

BOOK  II 

THE  PALACE  OF  THE  KING 

I.  On  the  Broad  Highway 25 

II.  The  Man  with  the  Cocked  Hat     ....  41 

III.  A  Strange  Revelation 51 

IV.  Searching  the  Files 61 

V.  The  Story  of  the  Past 75 

VI.  The  Star  of  Empire 85 

VII.  Pot  Calls  the  Kettle  Black 93 

VIII.  Mr.  Kearns  Has  a  Premonition     .     .     .     .103 

IX.  A  Mystery  of  the  Palace Ill 

X.  The  Great  Court  Ball 123 

XL  In  the  Gardens  of  the  King 133 

XII.  A  Night  Alarm 143 

XIII.  How  Came  This  to  Pass     ......  153 

XIV.  The  Counterplot 157 

XV.  The  Eavesdropper  of  the  Queen's  Walk  .     .  171 

XVI.  The  Tap  of  Miladi's  Fan ' .  183 

XVII.  When  Greek  Meets  Greek 197 


CONTENTS 

BOOK  III 

IN  THE  HANDS  OF  THE  ENEMY 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

I.  "  Who  Are  You  " 207 

H.  Valerie  Seeks  News  of  the  Fashions     .     .  219 

III.  The  Masked  Visitor 229 

IV.  Unfolding  the  Plan 251 

V.  A  Strange  Message 267 

VI.  The  New  Chancellor 285 

VII.  From  Behlnd  the  Curtain 301 

VIII.  In  the  Chancellerie 319 

IX.  The  Last  Stand  of  the  Guards     ....  339 
X.  The  New  Era 351 


BOOK   I 

THE  CAVE  OF  WHISPERS 


CHAPTEE  I 

DE,    BELDEN'S   ESTABLISHMENT 

The  establishment  of  Dr.  James  Belden  was  pleas- 
antly situated  upon  the  southern  shore  of  Long 
Island,  some  ninety  odd  miles  from  the  city.  The 
spacious  house  was  fitted  with  every  modern  conveni- 
ence and  comfort,  and  stood  in  extensive,  well-wooded 
private  grounds.  There  were  good  fishing  and  boat- 
ing to  be  had  and  the  white,  well-kept  Long  Island 
roads  afforded  excellent  facilities  alike  for  riding 
and  driving. 

The  establishment  was  in  reality  a  cross  between  a 
sanatorium  and  a  physical  culture  resort.  The  doc- 
tor-proprietor carefully  examined  each  person  upon 
arrival  and  kept  his  directing  eye  upon  him  during 
his  stay.  He  prescribed  the  diet  and  the  exercise 
suited  to  each  case  and  saw  to  it  personally  that  his 
instructions  were  carried  out.  Many  a  wreck  of  the 
city's  storm  and  stress  had  the  Doctor  sent  back  to  the 
metropolis  renovated  and  renewed,  and  many  were 
the  haggard  devotees  of  late  hours  and  city  dissipa- 
tion who  had  returned,  after  a  sojourn  at  the  retreat, 
with  vigor  in  their  limbs  and  the  hue  of  health  in 


2  THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

their  cheeks.  In  a  word,  the  Doctor  was  a  philan- 
thropist, at  a  hundred  a  week,  who  extended  a  haven 
of  rest  for  human  wrecks  and  turned  them  out  again 
on  the  high  seas  of  life  staunchly  refitted  to  renew 
the  struggle.  The  Doctor  himself,  in  fact,  often  re- 
ferred to  his  establishment  as  a  haven  of  refuge, 
which  nautical  expression  was,  perhaps,  not  inapt, 
inasmuch  as  the  harbor  in  question  was  not  infre- 
quently visited,  in  popular  parlance,  by  "  swells " 
and  "  high-rollers." 

Dr.  Belden  himself  was  an  exceedingly  genial  per- 
son, who  well  knew  how  to  keep  his  various  guests 
amused  and  in  good  humor  with  themselves  and  the 
world  in  general.  The  one  subject  which  disturbed 
the  Doctor's  equanimity  was  the  presence  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  a  recently  established  private  asylum  for 
the  insane  maintained  by  a  Dr.  Weldon.  The  sim- 
ilarity between  the  names  Weldon  and  Belden  had  led 
upon  certain  occasions  to  various  distressing  and  dis- 
tinctly embarrassing  mistakes.  Thus,  when  distin- 
guished visitors  had  at  times  mentioned  that  they 
were  staying  at  Dr.  Belden's  establishment,  rustics 
of  the  neighboring  villages  had  been  known  to  tap 
their  heads  significantly  and  adopt  either  attitudes 
of  alarm,  or  patronizing  airs,  as  the  case  might  be. 
While  little  Reggie  Smithers  had  been  sojourning 
at  Dr.  Belden's  the  rumor  had  been  circulated  at 
his  club  that  he  was  incarcerated  in  an  asylum  for 
lunatics  and  a  friendly  wag  had  written  him  a  letter 
of  condolence,  in  which  he  took  occasion  to  remark 
parenthetically  that  he  had  always  entertained  an 
innate  conviction  that  Reggie  would  eventually  so 
wind  up,  at  which  Reggie  had  been  exceedingly 
wroth  and  had  felt  impelled  to  cut  short  his  stay  and 
return  as  quickly  as  possible  to  the  city,  so  as  to  give 
.the  lie  to  the  rumor. 


DR.  BELDEN'S  ESTABLISHMENT         3 

The  early  summer  of  nineteen  hundred  found  the 
sanatorium  fairly  well  rilled  with  guests,  not  the 
least  notable  among  whom  was  Mr.  Thomas  Kearns, 
the  widely-famed  head  of  New  York's  Secret  Serv- 
ice Bureau,  who  had  selected  this  quiet  retreat  at 
which  to  build  up  his  magnificent  muscular  develop- 
ment and  repair  the  ravages  upon  his  general  system 
incurred  by  his  exciting  and  somewhat  irregular 
mode  of  life  in  the  city.  To  describe  Mr.  Kearns 
as  widely  famed  was  certainly  not  overstating  the 
case,  for  he  was  conceded  to  be  the  ablest  detector 
of  crime  in  the  country.  So  many  were  the  great 
mysteries  which  he  had  unraveled  and  with  so  many 
important  cases  had  he  been  connected  that  his  fame 
had  stretched  far  and  wide,  extending  beyond  the 
confines  of  the  United  States  and  reaching  into  for- 
eign lands.  In  a  word,  his  reputation  was  interna- 
tional and  his  achievements  had  been  lauded  in 
many  countries  and  in  many  tongues. 

His  fellow-townsmen  of  the  great  metropolis  —  in 
fact,  his  countrymen  at  large  —  were  proud  of 
Thomas  Kearns.  When  Americans  traveling 
abroad  heard  of  some  mystery  which  the  secret  police 
of  European  capitals  were  unable  to  solve,  they  were 
wont  to  smile  in  a  superior  way  and  exclaim: 
"  They  ought  to  send  for  Kearns  over  here  —  our 
Kearns.     He  would  show  them  what's  what !  " 

Everybody  from  the  doorman  at  Police  Headquar- 
ters to  the  Police  Commissioners  and  the  heads  of 
the  city  government  treated  Mr.  Kearns  with  dis- 
tinguished consideration;  he  was  regarded  as  one 
of  the  Institutions  of  the  city.  No  one  ever  dreamed 
of  interfering  with  Mr.  Kearns.  And  well  he  justi- 
fied this  trust.  Under  his  administration  the 
criminal  classes  were  kept  in  a  subjection  and  awe 
which  rendered  life  and   property  more  secure   in 


4  THE  FIKST  AMERICAN  KING 

New  York  than  in  any  other  great  city  of  the  world. 
No  criminal  from  other  cities  dared  seek  abode  in 
the  metropolis  without  first  reporting  to  Mr.  Kearns 
as  to  his  advent,  his  place  of  domicile,  the  causes  of 
his  visit,  and  the  duration  of  his  stay,  and  no  man 
of  criminal  record  might,  under  any  circumstances, 
by  day  or  by  night,  venture  to  put  foot  south  of 
Fulton  Street,  into  the  great  financial  centres  where 
the  heaped-up  wealth  of  the  city  was  stored. 

Possessed  of  ample  means,  no  breath  of  sus- 
picion had  ever  touched  Mr.  Kearns.  The  vicissi- 
tudes of  his  calling  had  enabled  him  upon  many 
occasions  to  be  of  inestimable  service  to  various  finan- 
cial powers,  and  these  powers  had  gladly  placed  at 
his  disposal  information  which  had  enabled  him 
to  build  up  a  handsome  private  fortune.  He  was 
a  man  of  some  forty  years,  of  medium  height  and 
well-rounded  figure,  with  blue  eyes,  a  ruddy  com- 
plexion and  the  general  appearance  of  a  prosperous 
merchant ;  but  the  blue  eyes  had  a  very  keen  look  at 
times  and  the  lips  a  peculiar  way  of  pursing  them- 
selves under  the  heavy,  well-kept  brown  moustache. 

It  is  true  that  here  and  there  at  times  it  was  whis- 
pered about  that  Mr.  Kearns'  success  was  largely 
due  to  the  vast  army  of  informers  — "  stool  pig- 
eons," as  they  were  technically  termed  —  fostered 
and  maintained  by  him  among  the  criminals  them- 
selves, and  that  in  many  of  his  most  famous  cases 
the  mystery  had  been  solved  by  confessions  procured 
through  the  exercise  of  the  mysterious  rites  of  the 
"  third  degree."  The  precise  nature  of  these  rites 
was  known  to  none  save  the  initiated,  but  it  was 
darkly  hinted  that,  in  certain  subterranean  cells 
beneath  Mr.  Kearns'  official  quarters,  tortures  were 
practised  beside  which  the  horrors  of  the  Spanish 
Inquisition  paled  into  insignificance. 


DR.  BELDEN'S  ESTABLISHMENT        5 

As  to  the  truth  of  these  rumors  there  seemed  to 
be  no  precise  means  of  ascertaining,  but  certain  it 
was  that  Mr.  Kearns'  methods  were  eminently  suc- 
cessful and  —  nothing  pays  like  success ! 

With  that  easy  geniality  which  was  one  of  his 
characteristics,  within  twenty-four  hours  after  his 
arrival  Mr.  Kearns  was  on  terms  of  friendly 
acquaintance  with  the  various  other  guests.  Most 
of  these  were  men  about  town,  of  various  ages,  but 
all  suffering  from  much  the  same  physical  troubles, 
and  all  possessed  of  much  the  same  manners, 
habits  and  train  of  thoughts.  Of  men  of  this 
stamp,  Mr.  Kearns  saw  enough  in  the  city  and 
they  did  not  particularly  interest  him.  Among 
these  guests,  the  one  who  most  attracted  his  interest 
and  attention  was  Professor  Walter  Stuart  Dean,  of 
Chicago.  Professor  Dean  until  recently  had  filled 
the  chair  of  Science  at  Chicago  University,  but  had 
been  forced  out  because  of  a  book  on  political 
economy  he  had  published.  Some  of  the  theories 
set  forth  in  this  work  were  of  so  advanced  and  radi- 
cal a  character  as  to  give  offense  to  certain  patrons 
of  the  Institution.  Professor  Dean's  views  were 
held  to  be  nothing  short  of  an  assault  upon  the  sacred 
Rights  of  Property.  As  one  obese  and  influential 
patron  of  the  seat  of  learning  put  it,  "  Capital  stood 
aghast "  at  Professor  Dean's  views.  As  some  one 
must  suffer  whenever  poor,  timid  Capital  is  thrown 
into  a  fright,  Professor  Dean,  in  spite  of  his  con- 
ceded great  abilities,  was  made  to  pay  the  penalty. 

The  Professor,  however,  accepted  the  situation 
with  much  equanimity.  He  had  succeeded  in  sell- 
ing to  one  of  the  great  cable  companies  an  invention 
in  connection  with  the  transmission  of  messages  and 
had  received  quite  a  goodly  sum.  This  placed  him 
in  a  position  of  pecuniary  ease  so  far  as  the  immedi- 


6  THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

ate  future  was  concerned,  and  be  had  come  to  Dr. 
Belden's  establishment  to  recruit  his  energies  in 
preparation  for  the  launching  of  a  scientific  scheme, 
very  comprehensive  and  ambitious  in  its  scope,  deal- 
ing with  the  question  of  aerial  navigation. 

The  Professor  was  a  man  of  some  forty-seven 
years,  tall  and  thin  and  with  that  slight  stoop  of  the 
shoulders  peculiar  to  the  student.  The  face  was 
clean-shaven  and  pale,  with  a  marked  puff  of  the 
flesh  above  each  eye  where  the  brows  were  wont  to 
contract  in  the  intensity  of  thought.  When  the  firm, 
well-cut  features  lighted  in  a  smile,  the  face  became 
positively  handsome.  One  of  the  Professor's  hob- 
bies, which  he  was  fond  of  discussing  with  Mr. 
Ivearns,  was  the  question  of  the  economic  condition 
of  the  masses  of  the  people.  The  Professor  con- 
tended —  and  it  pained  his  kindly  nature  that  such 
was  the  case  —  that  the  great  mass  of  the  people  were 
not  as  well-off  as  they  should  be ;  that  the  true  happi- 
ness and  well-being  of  the  great  body  of  mankind 
had  not  advanced  in  proportion  to  the  world's  prog- 
ress in  other  directions. 

Another  pet  subject  of  discussion  with  the  Pro- 
fessor was  his  theories  of  aerial  navigation.  In 
fact,  he  declared  that  he  had  fully  and  satisfactorily 
solved  the  problem  and  was  prepared  in  the  near 
future  to  produce  a  craft  with  which  the  air  could 
be  navigated  at  will,  both  in  safety  and  at  high  speed. 
His  plans  for  this  work,  he  explained,  were  fully 
perfected  and  the  completed  invention  would  have 
been  an  accomplished  fact  some  time  before  had  he 
not  been  hampered  by  lack  of  means.  But  with  the 
funds  received  from  the  sale  of  his  electrical  device 
to  the  cable  company  he  was  in  possession  of  suf- 
ficient means  to  put  through  the  work  properly,  and 
he  intended  to  devote  himself  actively  to  this  matter 


DR.  BELDEN'S  ESTABLISHMENT         7 

as  soon  as  his  present  vacation  was  over.  In  the 
meantime,  he  had  written  on  the  subject  of  aerial 
navigation  sundry  pamphlets  which  had  attracted 
attention  in  scientific  circles. 

At  first,  Mr.  Kearns  was  disposed  to  regard  Pro- 
fessor Dean's  projects  in  this  connection  as  partak- 
ing of  the  visionary,  but  as  he  grew  to  know  him 
better,  the  Professor's  clear-headedness  and  con- 
servatism made  more  and  more  of  an  impression 
upon  him  and  he  came  to  regard  aerial  navigation, 
with  Professor  Dean  as  its  introducer,  as  not  such 
an  unlikely  possibility  in  the  near  future. 

Another  acquaintance  made  by  Mr.  Kearns  was 
that  of  Dr.  Raoul  Jaquet.  Dr.  Jaquet  was  not  a 
guest  of  Dr.  Belden's  famous  establishment,  but 
lived  in  a  cottage  of  his  own  some  little  distance 
away.  He  was  on  friendly  terms  with  Dr.  Belden, 
who  spoke  of  him  as  a  man  of  remarkable  attain- 
ments in  certain  branches  of  scientific  research, 
notably  in  chemistry  and  toxicology.  Dr.  Jaquet 
cultivated  friendly  relations  with  Professor  Dean 
and  Mr.  Kearns,  and  his  visits  to  Dr.  Belden's  estab- 
lishment became  more  frequent  than  ever.  All  three 
were  fond  of  exercise  on  foot  and  they  took  long 
rambles  together  over  the  surrounding  country. 

Dr.  Jaquet,  too,  had,  like  Professor  Dean,  his 
hobby,  and  this  hobby  was  the  subject  of  suspended 
animation.  He  was  a  Frenchman  some  fifty  years 
of  age,  short  and  spare  of  figure,  with  a  complexion 
dark  as  if  stained  with  walnut  juice,  and  very  black 
and  very  curly  hair,  lightly  streaked  with  gray.  He 
spoke  with  great  volubility,  in  quick,  jerky  little 
sentences  whose  peculiar  idiomatic  twists  suggested 
a  direct  translation  from  his  native  French.  Upon 
one  occasion,  they  visited  his  cottage  and  he  showed 
them    different    animals,    apparently    sound    asleep, 


8  THE  FIEST  AMERICAN  KING 

which  he  declared  were  in  various  stages  of  suspended 
animation.  He  pointed  out  a  peacefully  sleeping 
dog,  and  explained  that  it  had  been  in  this  condition 
for  sixty-five  days  without  a  particle  of  food  or  drop 
of  liquid.  He  also  exhibited  a  rabbit  which  had  been 
in  the  same  state  for  four  months.  All  he  had  to  do, 
the  Doctor  declared,  was  to  restore  them  to  wakeful- 
ness and  they  would  promptly  resume  their  normal 
condition.  Mr.  Kearns  failed  to  restrain  a  mild 
expression  of  his  skepticism ;  but  the  Doctor's  voluble 
protestations  forced  him  to  accept  the  statement  of 
their  condition,  though  he  still  maintained  the  ani- 
mals could  either  not  be  aroused  at  all,  or  else 
would  drop  dead  as  soon  as  awakened.  The  Doctor 
promptly  awakened  the  rabbit.  The  animal  seemed 
at  first  slightly  lethargic  and  dazed,  but  it  quickly 
vindicated  the  Doctor's  claims  by  cavorting  about  its 
cage  and  then  falling  to  work,  in  a  businesslike  way, 
upon  a  proffered  lettuce  leaf. 

Doctor  Jaquet  was  enthusiastic  on  the  subject  of 
hibernation,  pointing  with  pride  to  the  achievements 
in  this  direction  of  snakes  and  many  animals,  which 
were  known  to  live  to  great  ages.  He  declared  his 
conviction  that  in  suspended  animation  could  be  found 
an  excellent  cure  for  many  diseases,  notably  troubles 
of  the  digestive  tract ;  that  during  the  period  of  sus- 
pension Nature,  freed  from  the  necessity  of  perform- 
ing her  ordinary  routine  functions,  would  be  given 
an  opportunity  of  making  her  own  cure.  In  a  word, 
suspended  animation  was,  according  to  Dr.  Jaquet, 
the  great  and  true  panacea  for  most  of  the  evils  with 
which  mortality  was  afflicted. 

"  You  mean,"  questioned  Mr.  Kearns,  after  Dr. 
Jaquet  had  launched  out  into  his  favorite  discussion 
as  a  sequel  to  the  resurrection  of  the  rabbit,  "if  a 
man  has  trouble  with  his  liver,  or  a  pain  in  his  stom- 


DK.  BELDEN'S  ESTABLISHMENT         9 

ach,  instead  of  giving  him  a  pill,  or  other  dose,  you 
would  suspend  him  %  " 

"  That  which  you  say  there  has  reason !  "  replied 
the  Doctor  in  his  peculiar  phraseology. 

But  Mr.  Kearns'  manner  indicated  his  skepticism 
and  the  Doctor  seemed  quite  piqued. 

"  And  how  do  you  bring  about  this  condition  of 
suspended  animation  ?  "  asked  Mr.  Kearns. 

"  I  put  them  to  sleep.  I  can  make  sleep  any  per- 
son —  all  the  world !  "  declared  the  little  Doctor  with 
conviction. 

Mr.  Kearns  smiled. 

"  Ah  !     You  doubt  it  ?  "  asked  the  Doctor. 

"  Could  you  put  me  to  sleep,  for  instance  ?  "  in- 
quired Mr.  Kearns,  parrying  the  question. 

"  With  facility !  "  replied  Dr.  Jaquet. 

A  look  of  polite  incredulity  crept  into  Mr.  Kearns' 
face. 

"Will  you  that  I  shall  try?"  asked  the  Doctor 
eagerly. 

Mr.  Kearns  remained  silent,  somewhat  taken  aback 
by  the  novelty  of  the  situation. 

"  Ah,  you  hesitate !  You  have  fear  that  I  shall 
succeed.  But  have  no  fear.  There  is  nothing  Avhich 
can  do  you  hurt.     On  the  contrary,  only  good !  " 

"  Fear ! "  exclaimed  Mr.  Kearns  with  a  start. 
"  Do  not,  I  beg  you,  form  the  idea  that  I  am  afraid 
to  subject  myself  to  your  test.  I  must  return  to  Dr. 
Belden's  early,  so  I  cannot  avail  myself  of  your  offer 
to-day,  but  extend  it  again  some  time  and,  upon  my 
word,  I  shall  be  much  inclined  to  take  you  up." 

"  I  can  make  you  sleep  for  six  hours,  six  days,  six 
weeks !  "  declared  the  Doctor  with  enthusiasm. 

"  Let  us  call  it  six  hours  and  I  should  consider  that 
you  have  fully  vindicated  your  assertion,"  replied 
Mr.  Kearns  with  a  smile. 


10         THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

"  Very  well.  I  will  prove  to  you  some  day/'  de- 
clared Dr.  Jaquet.  "  Now,  listen !  To-morrow  I 
will  call  for  you  at  one  o'clock.  We  will  take  a  great 
walk  together.  I  will  conduct  you  to  a  little  piece 
of  land  which  I  own  over  there  in  the  mountain*. 
On  this  land  is  a  cave,  where  I  will  show  you  s<nne 
wonderful  things." 

"  Very  well ;  that  sounds  interesting/'  replied  Mr. 
Keams.     "  You  will  call  for  us  to-morrow,  then  ?  " 

"  Yes,  my  friends ;  au  revoir  until  to-morrow," 
said  the  Doctor  genially,  as  he  courteously  bowed 
them  to  the  door. 

"  What  do  you  think  of  that  \  "  asked  Mr.  Kearna 
of  Professor  Dean,  as  they  walked  down  the  road  on 
their  way  back  to  Dr.  Belden's. 

"  Of  what  ?  "  asked  the  Professor. 

"  Of  the  assertions  made  by  our  interesting  little 
French  friend,"  replied  Mr.  Keams. 

"  In  what  connection  %  " 

"  Oh,  as  to  this  suspended  animation  business  and 
his  ability  to  put  people  to  sleep  and  so  on." 

"  My  work  has  been  entirely  confined  to  the  practi- 
cal branches  of  science,"  answered  the  Professor  cau- 
tiously. "  I  have  really  never  had  any  opportunity 
of  investigating  any  matters  of  this  nature.  Many 
peculiar  claims  and  theories  have  been  advanced  as- 
to  mesmerism,  hypnotism,  and  auto-suggestion,  but 
I  am  not  really  competent  to  advise  you  as  to  their 
merits." 

"  Answered  with  the  caution  of  an  expert  on  the 
witness  stand ! "  cried  Mr.  Kearns  with  a  laugh. 
"  But  tell  me  this !  Do  you  believe  that  out  of  ten 
men  picked  haphazard,  he  could  succeed  in  getting 
say  two  out  of  the  ten  into  a  condition  of  suspended 
animation,  or  hypnotic  sleep,  or  whatever  you  like 
to  call  it  ?     What  puzzles  me  is  his  apparent  ability 


DK.  BELDEN'S  ESTABLISHMENT       11 

to  do  it  with  those  animals.  If  it  were  not  for  that 
fact,  I  should  not  be  inclined  to  give  the  matter  much 
attention." 

"  I  really  could  not  express  an  opinion,"  declared 
the  Professor. 

"  Then,  answer  me  this,  O  Mountain  of  Caution !  " 
cried  Mr.  Kearns.  "  Would  you  be  willing  to  join 
with  me  in  putting  the  Doctor  to  the  test  \  " 

The  Professor  remained  thoughtfully  silent  for  a 
moment. 

"  Ah !  "  exclaimed  Mr.  Kearns  maliciously,  "  shall 
I  throw  the  taunt  in  your  teeth,  which  the  little  Doc- 
tor threw  into  mine :  that  you  are  afraid  ?  " 

"  I  will  answer  you  this  way,"  replied  the  Pro- 
fessor calmly.  "  To-morrow  you  and  I  are  going  out 
together  in  company  of  the  Doctor.  Should  you  de- 
cide at  any  time  to-morrow  while  we  are  together  to 
enter  upon  an  adventure  of  this  character,  you  will 
not  find  me  loth  to  join  you.  When  people  start  out 
together  in  any  enterprise,  it  is  a  maxim  with  me 
that  they  should  stand  shoulder  to  shoulder." 

"  Spoken  like  a  brick !  "  declared  Mr.  Kearns  with 
enthusiasm. 

"  No,"  answered  the  Professor  dryly ;  "  it  is  a  con- 
ceded fact  that  bricks  do  not  talk.  You  are  really 
becoming  more  wonderful  than  the  Doctor  in  your 
assertions !  " 


CHAPTEK   II 

"  SLEEP    ON",    MY    FRIENDS,    SLEEP    ON  " 

At  the  time  appointed  on  the  following  day  —  it 
was  the  tenth  of  June,  1900  —  Dr.  Jaquet  called  for 
them  and  they  started  on  one  of  their  customary 
walks.  The  Doctor  acted  as  guide.  His  course  lay 
inland,  in  a  northwesterly  direction,  and  the  trio 
marched  jauntily  on,  chatting  gaily  together,  until 
some  four  miles  had  been  covered.  Then  the  Doctor 
changed  his  course  and  they  struck  across  country 
through  land  which  was  somewhat  rocky  and  broken 
and  thickly  covered  with  scrub  bushes  and  trees  of  a 
stunted  growth. 

"  Halloa !  "  exclaimed  Mr.  Kearns,  "  this  is  pretty 
rough  walking.  Remember,  too,  we  have  the  return 
journey.  What  is  the  use  of  wearing  ourselves 
out  going  over  ground  like  this  ?  " 

"  Follow  me,"  urged  Dr.  Jaquet,  who  was  leading 
and  picking  the  way  with  care. 

"  Well,  tell  us  at  least  where  you  are  leading  us," 
said  Mr.  Kearns.  "  It's  wild  enough  here  never 
to  have  been  trodden  upon  by  the  foot  of  man." 

Thus  questioned,  the  Doctor  explained  that  he  was 
leading  the  way  to  a  little  tract  of  land  which  he 
owned  in  the  midst  of  this  wilderness  of  scrub  growth, 
apparently  abandoned  entirely  to  the  squirrels  and 
the  jack-rabbits.  He  told  how  he  had  one  day  ex- 
plored this  land  and  had,  by  the  sheerest  accident,  dis- 
covered a  natural  cave  possessing  some  wonderful 
peculiarities.     He   decided   to   buy   the   land   upon 

13 


14         THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

which  it  was  located,  and  had  acquired  it  for  a  mere 
song  as  it  was  practically  valueless-  for  any  purpose 
whatsoever.  He  had  kept  the  cave  a  secret  for  fear 
of  its  being  visited  by  intruders.  They,  too,  must 
promise  him  to  keep  the  matter  secret.  Patience! 
The  ground  was  rough,  but  they  would  soon  be  there. 

"  Rough !  "  exclaimed  the  Professor ;  "  it's  as 
rough  as  civilization." 

"  Oh,  come,"  responded  Kearns,  "  you're  always 
criticising  civilization." 

"  Do  you  think  it's  a  success  ?  "  demanded  the  Pro- 
fessor. 

"  Do  you  dispute  it  ?"  challenged  Kearns. 

"  Can  it,  after  all,  be  said,"  answered  Professor 
Dean,  thoughtfully,  "  that  mankind  at  large  has 
really  gained  any  practical  good  by  that  progressive 
evolution  known  as  civilization  ?  Suppose  you  were 
the  chief  of  a  great  tribe  existing  under  primitive 
conditions,  and  suppose  that  you,  possessed  of  all 
the  knowledge  of  modern  life  which  you  have  to- 
day, were  confronted  with  the  proposition  as  to 
whether  you  would  leave  the  tribe  as  it  was,  or  would 
introduce  all  the  conditions  of  our  present  advanced 
civilization,  what  would  be  your  decision  ?  " 

"  Without  having  given  the  matter  much  thought," 
replied  Mr.  Kearns,  "my  offhand  answer  would  be, 
I  suppose,  that  I  should  divest  my  primitives  of 
breech-clouts  and  put  them  into  top-hats  and  trousers, 
and  supply  them  with  churches,  theatres,  hospitals, 
hotels,  a  stock-exchange,  a  police  headquarters,  and  all 
the  other  and  usual  adjuncts  of  civilization." 

"  And  if  I  were  the  chief  of  such  tribe,  and  you 
brought  such  proposition  to  me,  I  should  hesitate  long 
before  accepting  it,"  rejoined  the  Professor.  "  I 
should  ponder  carefully  whether  it  was  not  my 
bounden  duty  to  the  tribe  to  decapitate  you,  lest  you 


"  SLEEP  ON,  MY  FRIEXDS,  SLEEP  ON  "  15 

should  escape  and  give  the  world  knowledge  of  the 
existence  of  me  and  my  tribe  and  thus  bring  to  us 
by  force  the  civilization  which  you  proffered.  What 
would  your  civilization  mean  to  the  tribe  %  It  would 
give  us  great  cities  and  the  million  and  one  artificial 
adjuncts  which  form  part  and  parcel  of  modern  life. 
Would  the  men  of  the  tribe  be  as  happy,  as  healthy, 
or  as  really  comfortable  in  the  teeming  tenements, 
or  box-like  flat  houses  of  the  cities  which  had  sprung 
up,  as  they  were  under  their  tents  upon  the  plains  \ 
For  those  tenements  and  flat  houses  they  would  have 
to  pay  rent,  and  to  earn  that  rent  they  would  be  com- 
pelled in  many  instances  to  convert  themselves  and 
their  families  into  industrial  slaves.  Who  ever  heard 
of  so-called  savages  being  evicted  for  non-payment  of 
rent,  or  dying  by  the  hundreds  for  want  of  food  as  a 
consequence  of  economic  conditions  ?  And  yet,  let  a 
great  city  spring  up  and  you  have  thousands  of  such 
cases  every  year !  You  have  spoken  of  the  churches 
which  your  civilization  would  erect,  but  for  every 
church  which  your  great  city  of  modern  civilization 
would  bring  into  existence,  it  would  also  create  ten, 
nay  one  hundred,  drinking-shops  and  gambling-houses 
and  brothels.  And  as  to  morality,  is  a  primitive 
community  without  churches  ever  as  immoral  as  a 
civilized  community  with  a  church  to  every  other 
block?  You  have  spoken,  too,  of  hospitals.  It  is 
true,  your  civilization  would  bring  fine  hospitals,  with 
an  army  of  doctors  and  vast  stores  of  drugs,  but  with 
these  your  civilization,  with  its  artificial  forms  of  life, 
would  bring  into  existence  a  thousand  and  one  dis- 
eases utterly  unknown  to  men  living  in  a  primitive 
state.  Your  cures  might  be  very  comprehensive  and 
marvelous,  but  surely  it  would  be  infinitely  better 
to  escape  the  diseases  themselves,  in  the  first  place. 
With  pardonable  professional  pride,  you  have  also 


16  THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

alluded  to  the  existence  of  a  police  headquarters,  but 
under  primitive  conditions  such  a  place  would  be 
needless,  for  the  causes  which  bring  about  the  ma- 
jority of  crimes  in  a  civilized  community  would  not 
exist.  In  a  word,  the  primitive  tribesmen  to  whom 
I  have  referred  would  be  safe  as  to  their  liberty, 
their  homes,  their  health  and  their  morality,  whereas 
under  civilization,  and  in  return  for  the  artificial 
and  really  superfluous  adjuncts  it  has  to  offer,  these 
primitive  people  must  become  industrial  slaves  and 
rent-sweaters  and  must  surround  themselves  with  all 
the  evils  arising  from  corruption,  crime,  immorality 
and  disease.  Who,  I  ask  you,  is  the  happier  ?  The 
tribesman  procuring  his  means  of  livelihood  at  will 
by  fishing  in  rivers  or  in  streams,  or  scouring  the 
woods  and  the  plains  in  search  of  game,  or  the  free- 
man in  name,  but  industrial  slave  in  verity,  who 
under  the  beneficent  sway  of  our  modern  civilization 
ekes  out  a  miserable  subsistence  in  some  sweatshop 
of  the  city  at  a  dollar  and  a  half  a  day." 

"  I  must  admit  your  tribesman  would  seem  to  have 
the  best  of  it,"  declared  Mr.  Kearns. 

"  And  look,  too,  at  the  social  relations,"  continued 
the  Professor.  "  In  primitive  life,  the  savage  maiden 
mates  according  to  her  fancy,  according  to  the 
promptings  of  her  heart.  In  modern  civilization,  if 
we  are  to  judge  from  what  we  so  often  read  and  hear, 
a  great  number  of  marriages  turn  upon  the  question 
of  position,  or  of  money,  rather  than  of  true  affection. 
Winsome  May,  stung  by  her  necessities  or  her  ambi- 
tion, offers  herself  up  to  chill  December,  or,  her 
dainty  flesh  quivering  with  repulsion,  surrenders  her- 
self into  the  arms  of  hoary  Midas,  and  the  children 
of  such  union  are  the  offspring  of  Gluttony  mated 
with  Disgust.  You  see,  these  are  questions  which 
affect  the  very  life  blood  of  the  nation !     In  this  and 


"  SLEEP  ON,  MY  FRIENDS,  SLEEP  ON  "    17 

a  hundred  other  ways,  the  tide  of  social  life  is  inter- 
fered with  and  changed  by  the  ever  present  influence 
of  that  one  controlling  factor  in  civilized  life  — 
money,  money,  money!  Upon  my  word,  it  would 
seem  as  if  the  primitive  tribesman  had  much  better, 
in  the  interests  of  his  true  happiness  and  well-being, 
remain  as  he  is !  " 

"  What  you  say  as  far  as  crime  is  concerned,"  re- 
plied Mr.  Kearns,  "  is  undoubtedly  true  enough.  If 
you  except  those  offenses  perpetrated  under  the  in- 
fluence of  sudden  passion,  the  great  majority  of 
crimes  arise  from  the  necessities  and  temptations 
which  form  part  of  modem  social  life.  A  good  deal 
has  been  from  time  to  time  written  about  persons 
with  criminal  tendencies.  There  are  undoubtedly 
such  cases,  but  my  experience  is  that  a  career  of 
crime  involves  more  hazard,  harder  work  and  less 
pay  than  almost  any  other  form  of  occupation  a  man 
could  go  in  for.  The  average  criminal  would  be 
perfectly  willing  to  undertake  any  amount  of  honest 
work  to  accomplish  his  ends,  if  it  were  within  his 
power  to  accomplish  them  by  such  means,  and  he  only 
perpetrates  his  crime  because  he  sees  no  other  way  out 
of  the  situation.  In  saying  this  I  am  not  justifying 
his  methods,  or  warranting  the  soundness  of  general 
deductions,  but  am  merely  stating  a  fact.  Crime  is, 
as  a  rule,  the  result  of  environment,  and  this  environ- 
ment grows  out  of  the  conditions  of  modern  social 
life." 

"  Then  you  admit  the  correctness  of  the  facts  upon 
which  my  theory  is  based !  "  exclaimed  the  Professor. 
u  i"  T°  a  certain  extent>  yes,"  replied  Mr.  Kearns ; 

but  what  would  you?  Would  you  advocate  the 
renouncement  of  civilization  forthwith  and  a  return 
to  the  primitive  status  ?  " 

"  In  the  existing  state  of  affairs,"  answered  the 


18  THE  FIEST  AMEKICAX  EIXG 

Professor  gravely,  "  we  are  confronting  a  condition, 
not  a  theory.  Of  course,  it  would  be  utterly  im- 
practicable to  advocate  such  a  course;  but  I  do  say 
that  we  ought  to  be  more  modest  in  our  vaunts  as  to 
these  benefits  conferred  by  our  boasted  modern  civili- 
zation and  that  we  ought  to  strive  to  make  that  civili- 
zation give  a  larger  share  of  well-being  and  happi- 
ness to  the  great  masses  of  men.  As  it  is,  civilization 
means  the  accruing  of  immense  advantages  to  the 
few  with  corresponding  very  doubtful  benefits  to  the 
many.  This  is  all  wrong  and  will  not  be  permitted 
to  continue  forever." 

Thus  chatting  on,  they  forced  their  way  over 
ground  which  grew  rougher  and  rougher  and  through 
brushwood  and  undergrowth  which  seemed  to  become 
more  and  more  dense.  Twice  Mr.  Kearns  had  se- 
verely stubbed  his  toe  against  rocks  and  the  Pro- 
fessor's nose  had  been  lacerated  by  some  particularly 
vicious  brambles.  Both  were  becoming  somewhat 
tired  and  were  wondering  what  manner  of  chase  they 
were  being  led,  when  the  Doctor  suddenly  ex- 
claimed : 

"  Voila !     Here  we  are !  " 

His  body  bent  almost  to  earth,  Dr.  Jaquet  squeezed 
his  way  between  two  matted  masses  of  undergrowth 
and,  his  companions  following,  they  found  themselves 
in  a  clearing,  entirely  surrounded  by  heavy  bushes 
and  covered  by  a  rocky  formation  of  very  peculiar 
outline.  From  one  side  of  the  rock  the  Doctor  re- 
moved a  quantity  of  heaped-up  brush  and  disclosed 
quite  a  large  opening. 

"  My  cave !  "  declared  Dr.  Jaquet  proudly. 
"  Await  me  while  I  make  light !  " 

As  he  spoke,  the  Doctor  struck  a  match  and  de- 
scended into  the  cave.  A  moment  later  he  reap- 
peared. 


"  SLEEP  ON,  MY  ERIENDS,  SLEEP  ON  "     19 

"  I  have  lighted  the  lamp,"  he  said.  "  You  may 
enter." 

His  companions  now  perceived  some  roughly  made 
steps  which  led  down  from  the  opening.  These  they 
carefully  descended  and  found  themselves  in  a  goodly- 
sized  cave  of  irregular  formation  —  a  cave  which  was 
partly  the  work  of  nature,  but  which  had  evidently 
been  enlarged  and  partly  transformed  by  human 
hands.  On  the  floor  were  a  number  of  heavy  rugs 
and  ranged  along  the  walls  were  various  furnishings. 
In  the  centre,  suspended  from  the  roof,  was  a  hand- 
some Venetian  lamp,  which  now  served  to  illuminate 
the  surroundings. 

"  Welcome !  "  exclaimed  the  Doctor  in  a  loud 
whisper. 

Welcome ! 

Welcome ! 

Welcome ! 

Instantly  following  the  Doctor's  whisper,  his  utter- 
ance was  repeated  three  distinct  times  in  different 
parts  of  the  cave.  The  effect  was  startling  and 
weird. 

"  This  I  call  '  The  Cave  of  Whispers,'  "  said  Dr. 
Jaquet,  in  response  to  his  companions'  inquiring 
looks.  "  See !  You  whisper  and  your  words  they 
come  back  to  you !  " 

The  Doctor  then  went  on  to  explain  that  one  of  his 
objects  in  buying  the  land  and  fitting  up  the  cave  was 
to  make  a  study  of  acoustics :  a  science  comparatively 
undeveloped  to  this  day.  But  the  place  had  a 
peculiar  charm  for  him  apart  from  this,  he  declared. 

The  Professor  and  Mr.  Kearns  amused  themselves 
for  some  time  whispering  various  sentences,  all  of 
which  were  faithfully  echoed  back  to  them. 

"  And  now,"  said  Dr.  Jaquet,  "  you  must  be  tired, 
my  friends.     You  shall  yourselves  rest  and  I  shall 


20         THE  FIKST  AMERICAN  KING 

give  you  tobacco  to  smoke  which  you  will  find  fit  for 
a  Sultan." 

As  he  spoke,  he  arranged  for  them  some  rugs  and 
cushions  and  produced  a  handsome  Turkish  Narghille, 
which  he  placed  before  them  on  the  floor.  This  he 
proceeded  to  prime  with  a  long-fibred,  very  pale  col- 
ored tobacco,  and  to  each  of  them  he  handed  an  amber 
stem. 

"  Smoke,  my  friends,  and  enjoy  you  yourselves," 
he  said,  as  he  applied  a  light  to  the  tobacco.  "  All, 
it  is,  perhaps,  a  little  chilly  here.  I  will  cover  you 
and  you  shall  have  the  music,  too." 

He  stretched  a  rug  over  each  of  them,  and  then, 
from  the  side  of  the  cave,  brought  forth  a  little  music 
box,  which  he  placed  beside  him  and  set  in  opera- 
tion. 

Dr.  Jaquet  took  up  a  position  facing  them  and 
lighted  a  Turkish  cigarette. 

"  You  are  quite  comfortable,  my  friends?"  he 
asked. 

"  Quite !  "  answered  the  Professor. 

"  Delightful !  "  came  the  reply  from  Mr.  Kearns. 

And  the  cave  echoed  back  their  words. 

The  tobacco  was  peculiarly  soothing  and  delicious. 
It  really  was,  as  the  Doctor  had  declared,  worthy  of  a 
Sultan.  Both  the  Doctor's  companions  were  some- 
what tired  after  their  walk.  A  peculiar  sense  of 
restfulness  and  comfort  was  upon  them  as  they  lay 
at  ease,  smoking  the  very  excellent  tobacco  and  listen- 
ing to  the  sweet  music  falling  so  gently  upon  their 
ears.  Thus  silently  they  lay  and  smoked  on.  The 
Doctor's  usual  volubility  was  checked  and  he  quietly 
smoked  his  cigarette,  his  black  eyes  fixed  upon 
them. 

The  music  box  reached  the  end  of  its  melody. 
Instantly  the  Doctor  started  it  again. 


"  SLEEP  ON,  MY  FKIENDS,  SLEEP  ON  "  21 

"  Look !  "  he  said,  in  a  low  whisper,  bending  to- 
ward them.  "  Look  at  the  lamp !  See  how  it  throws 
out  to  you  all  the  light,  all  the  fire  of  the  diamond." 

Slowly  and  mechanically,  in  obedience  to  his  direc- 
tion, they  turned  their  eyes  toward  the  gorgeous 
hanging  lamp.  It  was  as  the  Doctor  said.  From 
its  glittering,  multi-colored  glass  sides  the  light 
seemed  to  refract  in  a  thousand  variegated  shades. 
The  smoke  issued  from  between  the  smokers'  lips  in 
slow  and  dreamy  puffs;  the  rose-water  bubbled 
rhythmically  in  the  pipe ;  the  sweet  music  played  on. 


The  odor  of  a  strange  incense  seemed  to  fill  the  air. 
The  lamp,  grown  to  giant  dimensions,  appeared  to 
send  forth  shafts  of  ever-changing  light.  The  walls 
of  the  cave  rolled  back,  disclosing  magnificent 
cathedral  aisles,  boundless  in  expanse  and  rich  in 
marble  and  porphyry  and  gilt,  through  which  the  ma- 
jestic tones  of  an  organ  swelled.  A  sense  of  religious 
fervor  and  of  overmastering  awe  filled  their  souls. 

The  scene  changed.  They  were  amid  the  gorgeous 
splendors  of  an  Oriental  palace  —  a  palace  which  in 
its  vastness  was  lost  to  all  sense  of  proportion  and 
whose  massive  dome  reached  high  to  heaven. 

Hark !  The  strains  of  barbaric  music,  the  clash- 
ing of  cymbals.  A  multitude  of  dancing  girls  spring, 
fairy-like,  into  motion  and  move  and  sway  in  all 
the  graceful,  voluptuous  motions  of  the  Oriental 
dance.  Their  gazelle-like  eyes  sparkle;  the  orna- 
ments upon  their  bosoms  flash  —  surely  this  is  the 
inner  Paradise  of  Mohammed  ! 

Again  the  scene  changes.  The  great  dome  of  the 
Eastern  palace  parts  in  twain  and  they  are  slowly 
and  deliciously  wafted  upward.     They  have  no  sense 


22         THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

of  the  strangeness  of  their  situation  —  no  fear.  Up- 
ward, ever  upward,  they  pass  to  giddy  heights  and 
yet.  this  same  sense  of  all-pervading  contentment  and 
happiness.  The  air  about  them  is  laden  with  the 
perfumes  of  Araby,  and  strains  of  melody  of  more 
than  earthly  sweetness  greet  the  enraptured  senses. 
This  must  be  the  music  of  the  spheres  —  the  chant 
of  the  heavenly  choir !  And  through  this  perfumed, 
music-laden  air  they  are  drifting  —  drifting  — 
drifting 


The  amber  mouthpieces  had  dropped  from  the 
smokers'  lips ;  their  heads  had  sunk  back  upon  the 
cushions ;  their  lids  were  closed. 

Gently,  cautiously,  the  Doctor  rose,  his  black  eyes 
dilated  with  excitement.  Over  the  sleepers  he  bent, 
making  mysterious  passes  toward  them  as  they  lay. 
For  an  hour  or  more  he  thus  worked;  then  with  a 
sigh  of  exhaustion,  the  perspiration  starting  from  his 
brow,  he  stepped  back  and  contemplated  them. 

"  Sleep  on,  my  friends,"  he  exclaimed,  with  a 
chuckle  of  satisfaction ;  "  sleep  on.  Thus  could  I 
let  you  sleep  for  weeks  —  many  weeks  —  but,  I  take 
it,  the  twenty-four  hours  will  be  enough  to  convince 
you  that  the  Doctor  Jaquet  can  make  all  the  world  to 
sleep." 

He  replaced  the  Turkish  pipe  and  the  music  box 
in  their  respective  places  and  put  the  other  articles 
in  the  cave  in  order.  Then  he  procured  more  rugs 
and  arranging  them  over  the  sleepers,  tucked  them  in 
carefully. 

"  Au  revoir,  my  friends,  until  we  meet  again," 
he  murmured  and,  with  a  sweeping  bow  to  the  sleep- 
ing forms,  he  made  his  exit. 


"  SLEEP  ON,  MY  FRIENDS,  SLEEP  ON  "   23 

Once  outside,  he  carefully  replaced  the  quantity 
of  brush  which  effectually  concealed  the  entrance  to 
the  cave.  As  he  did  so,  there  was  a  heavy,  rumbling 
noise  in  the  distance,  and  he  glanced  at  the  sky. 

"  I  must  get  me  home  at  high  speed !  "  he  mut- 
tered to  himself  as  he  noted  the  darkening  heavens. 
"  There  is  a  storm  which  is  coming." 

He  accordingly  retraced  his  steps  at  his  best  speed. 
He  had  proceeded  but  little  more  than  half  the  dis- 
tance, however,  when  the  storm  broke  in  all  its  fury: 
vivid  flashes  of  forked  lightning  alternating  with 
terrific  clashes  of  thunder.  Still  he  pressed  on,  not 
knowing  how  long  the  storm  might  last  and  bent 
upon  reaching  home. 

At  last,  however,  this  Summer  storm  reached  such 
a  pitch  of  violence  that  he  found  himself  compelled 
to  seek  shelter  imtil  its  full  fury  had  in  some  degree 
been  spent.  Not  a  habitation  in  sight !  Some  dis- 
tance down  the  road,  however,  was  a  great  oak,  whose 
wide-spreading  branches  would  afford  at  least  a  tem- 
porary haven.  Hastening  his  steps,  he  reached  the 
tree. 

At  that  very  instant,  the  whole  heavens  were 
illumined  with  a  tremendous  blaze  of  light.  A  great 
zigzag  tongue  of  forked  lightning  shot  forth  and 
darted  down  upon  the  oak,  rending  its  massive  trunk 
asunder  in  one  awful  stroke. 

And  at  the  foot  of  the  shattered  tree,  as  the  thun- 
der crashed  forth,  lay  a  blackened  and  blighted  shape, 
horrible  to  behold  —  the  body  of  Dr.  Raoul  Jaquet. 


BOOK  II 

THE  PALACE  OF  THE  KING 


CHAPTER   I 


ON   THE  BKOAD  HIGHWAY 


A-a-a-h ! 

A  prolonged  sigh  swelled  from  Dean's  lips. 

"Thunder  and  Mars!"  ^Kearns  raised  himself 
languidly  on  his  elbow. 

It  seemed  to  them  both  that  they  had  been  sleeping 
for  quite  a  long  time  —  an  unusually  long  time. 

Where  was  the  Doctor  ? 

The  sunlight  was  streaming  down  upon  their  faces. 
They  were  no  longer  in  the  cave,  but  were  lying  in 
the  outer  air  upon  the  grass,  their  rugs  still  wrapped 
about  them.  A  few  steps  away  were  two  men,  ap- 
parently laborers,  who  stood  contemplating  them  with 
looks  of  wonderment  not  unmingled  with  alarm. 

Slowly  and  unsteadily,  Kearns  rose  to  his  feet. 
Dean  followed  his  example.  Both  seemed  weak  and 
dizzy. 

Kearns  turned  a  pair  of  blinking  eyes  toward  the 
laborers. 

"  How  did  we  get  here  ?  "  he  asked  with  the  husky 
voice  of  a  man  with  a  bad  cold. 

One  of  the  laborers  pointed  toward  the  cave. 
25 


26  THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

About  the  entrance  some  felled  trees  and  piled  under- 
brush showed  where  the  men  had  been  working. 

"  Where  —  where  is  the  Doctor  ?  "  stammered 
Kearns,  his  eves  still  blinking  in  the  strong  sunlight 
and  his  thoughts  and  words  coming  with  some 
effort. 

The  two  laborers  turned  to  each  other.  On  the 
face  of  each  was  a  bucolic  leer.  Thej  eyed  each  other 
for  an  instant  and  then  the  taller  of  the  two  slowly 
raised  his  forefinger,  tapped  his  forehead,  and  winked 
knowingly  to  his  companion.  He  was  a  tall,  loose- 
jointed  fellow,  with  a  little  black  mark  on  the  left 
side  of  his  nose  and  there  was  something  impudent 
and  aggressive  in  him  as  he  stood  there  grinning  and 
showing  his  yellow  fangs.  His  companion  was  short 
and  stocky,  with  a  freckled  face,  sandy  hair,  and  a 
manner  suggestive  of  bashful  awkwardness.  He 
turned  to  the  two  strangers  furtively,  as  if  half  fear- 
ful that  the  other's  actions  might  give  offense. 

"  The  Doctor,"  repeated  the  taller  man  slowly 
and  with  peculiar  intonation ;  "  the  Doctor !  I  guess 
the  chances  be  he's  not  far  off  and  in  a  hot  chase  after 
both  of  yees !  " 

And  he  chuckled  softly  to  himself,  glancing  at  his 
companion. 

"  Not  far  off !  Have  you  seen  him  ?  Which  way 
did  he  go  ?  "  quickly  inquired  Dean. 

"Seen  him?"  repeated  the  rustic;  "no!  I  ain't 
seen  him,  nor  any  of  his  men." 

"  Then  what  made  you  say  he  was  not  far  off  ?  " 
demanded  Dean. 

Silence  from  the  two  rustics,  who  continued  to  ex- 
change glances. 

"  Look  here,  my  good  men !  "  exclaimed  Kearns 
impatiently ;  "  wake  up  and  listen  to  me.  Just  show 
us  the  way  to  the  road  and  you  shall  be  suitably  re- 


OX  THE  BROAD  HIGHWAY  27 

warded.  Perhaps,  too,  you  would  find  us  a  horse  and 
carriage  which  we  could  hire  to  take  us  home." 

The  two  men  stared  at  the  speaker,  open-mouthed, 
amazed.     Again  they  turned  to  each  other. 

"  A  horse  and  kerridge !  "  they  exclaimed  in  a 
breath. 

Then  they  broke  into  a  loud  laugh.  ISTow  it  was 
the  turn  of  Kearns  and  the  Professor  to  exchange 
glances  of  astonishment.  That  a  simple  request  to 
be  supplied  with  information  as  to  where  a  hors©  and 
carriage  could  be  hired  should'  produce  such  results 
was  certainly  amazing. 

Kearns  stepped  nearer  to  Dean.  "  I  believe  these 
fellows  are  crazy,"  he  whispered.  "  Perhaps  they 
have  escaped  from  the  Weldon  Asylum." 

"  The  smaller  man  seems  a  case  of  senile  demen- 
tia," whispered  back  the  Professor,  cautiously ;  "  but 
the  larger  fellow  looks  to  me  like  a  dangerous  lunatic 
—  possibly  a  homicidal  maniac.  We  may  be  in 
danger  of  our  lives !  " 

While  this  colloquy  was  in  progress,  the  rustics 
had  not  taken  their  eyes  off  the  strangers  for  an  in- 
stant.    The  taller  of  the  two  again  spoke  up. 

"  A  horse  and  kerridge,"  he  said.  "  Maybe  if  ye 
had  a  pitchfork  apiece  ye  could  scoot  away  through 
the  air,  leaving  only  a  streak:  of  brimstone  behind  ye. 
I've  heerd  tell  o'  sech  things !  " 

Kearns'  quick  temper  flashed  up.  He  advanced 
upon  the  speaker. 

"  Confound  you,  you  impudent " 

"  Run  f er  it,  Jem ;  run  f er  it !  "  yelled  the  smaller 
man  apprehensively.  "  They're  a-goin'  to  speH !  " 
He  took  to  his  heels  at  full  speed. 

Jem  gave  one  quick  glance  at  Kearns  and  was  off 
after  his  companion. 

Kearns  and  the  Professor  stood  watching  their  rap- 


28  THE  FIKST  AMERICAN  KING 

idly  retreating  figures  until  they  disappeared  around 
the  bend  of  a  hill. 

"  Well  —  I'm  hanged  !  "  exclaimed  Kearns. 
"Mad,"  he  added  with  conviction,  "  mad  as  March 
hares." 

"  You  see  what  comes  of  ill-advised  asperity !  " 
remarked  Dean  reprovingly.  "  Instead  of  soothing 
these  two  unfortunate  madmen,  you  have  thrown 
them  into  a  condition  of  excitement.  Your  impetu- 
osity has  reacted  upon  them.  You  have  sent  them 
flying  —  running  amuck  —  and  God  knows  what  may 
happen  to  any  unfortunate  who  crosses  their  path !  " 

"  But  did  you  ever  know  of  such  impudence  %  " 
cried  Kearns,  still  angry.  "  I  civilly  ask  these  louts 
the  direction  of  the  main  road  and  where  I  can  hire 
a  horse  and  carriage ;  they  laugh  in  my  face ;  invite 
me  to  ride  on  a  pitchfork!  Things  have  come  to  a 
pretty  pass  if  every  lunatic  one  meets  thinks  he  has 
full  license  to  be  as  impudent  as  he  pleases.  And 
they  acted  as  if  they  thought  we  were  crazy,  confound 
them !  " 

"  It's  a  common  delusion  of  crazy  folks  to  im- 
agine everyone  is  crazy  except  themselves,"  said  the 
Professor. 

"  Yes ;  that's  very  true !  I've  noticed  that !  "  as- 
sented Kearns. 

"  As  I  remarked  before,  a  case  of  senile  dementia, 
that  little  fellow,"  said  the  Professor  sagaciously; 
"  a  clear  case  of  senile  dementia,  my  good  friend !  " 

"  Yes,"  declared  Kearns,  "  I  noted  his  sickly 
smile." 

"  Well,"  said  Dean,  "  they're  gone  and  we  are 
fortunately  left  alive  to  tell  the  story  and  to  put 
the  madhouse  people  on  their  trail.  The  next  thing 
to  be  done  is  to  find  the  main  road  and  get  to  the 
nearest  village.     There  we  can  hire   a   conveyance 


ON  THE  BROAD  HIGHWAY  29 

and  get  refreshments.  I  am  both,  hungry  and 
thirsty." 

"  The  nearest  village,"  repeated  Kearns  musingly ; 
"  I  take  it  that  would  be  Averill,  or  would  Patchley 
be  nearer?  " 

"  I  should  say  Averill,  decidedly." 

"  Well ;  let's  be  off,  then,  and  find  the  main  road," 
suggested  Kearns.  "  This  must  be  the  way,  I'm 
pretty  sure."  Picking  up  the  blankets  and  rugs  in 
which  they  had  been  wrapped,  he  tossed  them  through 
the  entrance  to  the  cave  and  started  off. 

"  Is  it  safe,  do  you  think,  for  us  to  leave  those 
things  there  ?  "  asked  the  Professor. 

"  What  else  can  we  do  with  them  % "  answered 
Kearns.  "  Let  the  Doctor  attend  to  that.  We'll 
notify  him,  of  course,  as  soon  as  we  get  back.  He 
had  no  business  to  leave  us  in  that  fashion,  anyway  !  " 

"  I  quite  agree  with  you  as  to  that,"  assented  the 
Professor.  "  Tired  out  with  our  walk,  we  must  have 
fallen  asleep  as  we  smoked  and  he  calmly  left  us." 

"  By  George !  "  exclaimed  Kearns,  with  a  sudden 
start ;  "I  wonder  if  the  Doctor  has  been  up  to  any 
of  his  pranks." 

"  Pranks !  "  repeated  the  Professor  in  astonish- 
ment. 

"  Yes ;  putting  people  to  sleep.  I  wonder  if  this 
sleep  of  ours  was  of  his  contriving." 

The  Professor  contracted  his  brows  thoughtfully. 

"  Now  that  you  mention  it,"  he  declared,  "  I  should 
not  be  astonished  if  it  was." 

"  Did  you  notice  that  pale-colored,  peculiar,  but 
certainly  very  excellent  tobacco  ?  "  continued  Kearns 
eagerly.  "  Upon  my  word,  I  begin  to  suspect  it  was 
fixed  —  doped  —  drugged  !  " 

"  You  don't  mean  to  say  so !  "  exclaimed  the  Pro- 
fessor. 


30         THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

"  Well,  I  just  did  say  so,"  retorted  Kearns. 

"  If  such  is  indeed  the  case,  how  long  do  you 
think  we  have  slept  ?  "  questioned  the  Professor. 

Kearns  drew  out  his  watch,  looked  at  it  and  then 
put  it  to  his  ear. 

"  What  does  your  watch  say  ?  "  he  asked. 

The  Professor  consulted  his  watch. 

"  It  has  stopped,"  he  declared.  "  Why,  it  seems 
to  be  run  down." 

Kearns  glanced  at  the  sky. 

"  Professor,"  he  remarked  solemnly,  "  it  looks  to 
me  as  if  we  had  slept  clean  into  the  next  day." 

"  How  so  ?  "  asked  the  Professor,  vacantly. 

"  Both  our  watches  are  run  down,"  replied  Kearns. 
"  That's  one  point.  When  we  entered  the  cave  it  was 
half  past  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  From  the 
sun  I'd  say  it's  now  about  one  o'clock.  As  time  hasn't 
the  habit  of  going  backward,  I'd  reach  the  conclu- 
sion that  this  must  be  the  afternoon  of  the  following 

da^" 

"  Really,  this  is  most  astonishing !  "  exclaimed  the 

Professor,  apparently  quite  shocked  at  the  idea  that 
he  should  have  thus  slumbered  for  nearly  twenty- 
four  hours. 

They  worked  their  way  around  the  base  of  a  hill, 
over  ground  rough  and  stony  and  partially  covered 
with  trees  and  undergrowth.  Before  long  they 
emerged  upon  comparatively  open  ground  and  then 
a  puzzling  feature  presented  itself  to  their  attention. 
When  led  to  the  cave  by  the  Doctor,  he  had  taken 
them  miles  through  scrub  growth  and  over  rough 
land.  Now,  after  traveling  a  comparatively  short 
distance  they  had  emerged  into  the  open  and  before 
them  stretched  fields  under  cultivation,  while  some 
three-quarters  of  a  mile  away  lay  a  broad,  white  road. 
This  was  decidedly  a  much  shorter  cut  than  the  path 


ON  THE  BROAD  HIGHWAY  31 

the  Doctor  had  taken.  But  how  was  it  that  he  had 
not  known  of  it  ?     It  was  really  puzzling ! 

"  There's  the  road !  "  exclaimed  Dean,  pointing 
to  the  broad,  white  line  in  the  distance. 

"  Yes,"  assented  Kearns,  musingly,  "  but  is  that 
the  road  we  are  looking  for  ?  This  doesn't  seem 
to  be  the  way  we  came.  The  lay  of  the  land  is  differ- 
ent." 

"  Perhaps  we  have  come  out  of  the  brush  in  a 
different  direction,"  suggested  Dean. 

"  We  certainly  must  have,"  replied  Kearns. 
"  Well,  right  or  wrong,  there's  nothing  to  do  but  to 
make  for  that  road  before  us." 

The  wisdom  of  this  view  was  apparent,  and  they 
accordingly  made  their  way  around  the  fields  under 
cultivation  and  finally  —  hot  and  tired  —  gained  the 
road.  Up  and  down  it  they  looked  and  perceived 
in  the  distance,  some  two  miles  away  to  the  left,  the 
outlines  of  what  appeared  to  be  a  goodly-sized  town. 

"  I  wonder  what  the  name  of  that  place  may  be," 
remarked  Kearns. 

"  Whatever  it  is,  it's  a  good  way  off,"  replied  Dean, 
mopping  the  perspiration  from  his  brow.  "  But 
have  you  noticed  what  a  magnificent  road  this  is  ? 
It  reminds  me  of  one  of  those  splendid  chemins  of 
Southern  France,  only  this  is  even  finer." 

Both  stood  admiringly  contemplating  the  road.  It 
was  very  wide,  very  white  and  splendidly  smooth. 
On  one  side  was  a  broad,  raised  pathway,  evidently 
for  the  use  of  foot-passengers.  A  curious  feature 
of  the  roadway  itself  was  its  division  by  a  raised 
earthwork  barrier,  cutting  it  into  two  even  parallel 
halves.  At  regular  intervals  were  steps  by  which 
ascent  might  be  made  from  the  road  to  the  footway 
and  also  little  bridges  connecting  the  dividing  barrier 
with  the  pathway. 


32         THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

"  Quite  a  model  road/'  commented  Kearns.  "  I 
suppose  it's  some  kind  of  a  speedway.  It's  queer, 
though,  that  I  never  heard  there  was  such  a  road  in 
this  section.  Fact  is,  I  don't  remember  ever  seeing 
a  road  of  this  kind  anywhere." 

"  Nor  I,"  declared  Dean. 

They  were  standing  on  the  extreme  edge  of  the 
road,  just  where  they  had  stepped  out  from  the  field. 
A  short  distance  away  was  a  bend,  concealing  the 
run  of  the  road  for  some  little  distance  beyond. 

Suddenly  there  were  two  sharp  toots,  as  of  a  horn, 
a.  rattle  and  a  rush  of  wheels,  and  past  them  dashed 
a  peculiar,  arrow-shaped,  horseless  vehicle,  traveling 
at  tremendous  speed.  So  rapid  was  its  flight  that 
they  had  time  to  catch  only  a  fleeting  glimpse  of  a 
man,  whose  right  hand  gripped  a  long,  shining  lever. 
So  sudden  was  the  appearance  of  the  vehicle  and  so 
great  its  speed  that  the  two  wayfarers  were  both 
startled  and  astonished. 

"  Was  that  an  automobile  ?  "  exclaimed  Dean. 

"  It  looked  like  one,"  answered  Keams,  "  but  I 
never  before  saw  one  of  that  peculiar  construction. 
And  the  speed !     Whew !  " 

"  Yes ;  reckless  to  the  last  degree,"  remarked  Dean. 
"  I  think  it  would  be  highly  desirable  for  us  to  gain 
the  footpath  before  we  meet  another  traveler." 

"  Stated  with  the  accuracy  of  science,"  declared 
Kearns.     "  By  all  means,  let's  take  the  footpath." 

They  accordingly  traversed  the  first  roadway,  clam- 
bered over  the  dividing  barrier,  crossed  the  second 
roadway  and  ascended  to  the  footpath.  Then  they 
turned  their  faces  in  the  direction  of  the  town  visible 
in  the  distance.  They  had  proceeded  but  a  few  steps 
when  Kearns  suddenly  stopped  and  turned  to  the 
Professor  with  the  air  of  a  man  to  whom  a  happy 
thought  has  come. 


OX"  THE  BROAD  HIGHWAY  33 

"  Professor,"  he  said  with  a  smile,  "  it's  just  oc- 
curred to  me  that  right  here,  in  my  hind  pocket,  I've 
a  flask.  I  remember  slipping  it  in  before  starting, 
thinking  it  might  come  in  handy  during  our  walk, 
and  it  looks  now  as  if  it  might." 

"A  flask!"  exclaimed  the  Professor,  diffidentlv. 
"  May  I  ask  what  it  contains  ?  " 

"  Whiskey  —  just  plain  whiskey,"  replied  Kearns, 
as  he  pulled  out  the  flask.  "  It's  a  warm  day  and  we're 
both  tired,  in  spite  of  that  long  rest.  May  I  invite 
you  to  join  me  ?  " 

"  The  day  is  warm,"  assented  the  Professor,  "  and 
we  are  tired.     I  do  not  usually  indulge,  but  upon  this 

occasion " 

"  Help  yourself,"  exclaimed  Kearns,  detaching  the 
small  silver  receptacle  which  served  as  a  drinking 
cup  and  handing  it  and  the  flask  to  Dean. 

The  latter  helped  himself  and  handed  back  the 
flask  to  Kearns.  "  Really !  "  he  exclaimed  with  some 
show  of  alarm,  "  that  seems  to  be  powerful  stuff.  I 
can  feel  it  all  through  me." 

"It's  the  finest  old  Kentucky  whiskey,"  replied 
Kearns,  somewhat  nettled  that  the  quality  of  his  li- 
quor should  be  questioned.  "  It  was  a  special  pres- 
ent to  me  from  Colonel  Claybourne,  the  famous 
distiller." 

"  Powerful  —  very  powerful !  "  repeated  Dean. 

Kearns  poured  himself  out  a  liberal  measure. 

"  Ah !  Splendid  stuff !  "  he  exclaimed  as  he  low- 
ered the  drinking  cup  from  his  lips.  "  That  puts 
new  life  into  one.  But,  by  George,  you're  right !  It 
is  strong.     I  never  before  found  it  so  strong  as  this." 

"  It  must  be  because  we  are  drinking  it  upon  empty 
stomachs,"  suggested  the  Professor. 

"  Even  so,"  declared  Kearns,  "  I  can't  understand 
why  it  should  seem  to  have  such  strength." 


34         THE  FIKST  AMERICAN  KING 

They  proceeded  on  their  way  and  had  gone  but  a 
short  distance  when  they  came  to  a  huge  sign-board, 
planted  high  up  upon  the  barrier  dividing  the  two 
roadways.  This  sign-board  bore  a  number  of  lines, 
in  great  black  letters.  The  two  wayfarers  stopped 
and  eagerly  scanned  the  inscription.     It  read :  — 

REGULATIONS  OF  THE  HIGHWAY. 

Phaeromobiles,    Lakomoters    and    other    Voiters 

MUST  NOT  EXCEED  THE  SPEED  ALLOWED  BY  Law. 

At  all  curves,  directors  of  voiters  must  slow  down 

to  HALF  SPEED. 

Descents  must  be  made  from  the  left  side  only 
of  voiters  south-bound  and  from  the  right  side  only 
of  voiters  north-bound,  and  after  descending,  persons 
must   traverse   the   roadway   by   the    cross-bridges 

ONLY. 

All  voiters  must  hoist  the  stop  signal  before  com- 
ing to  a  HALT. 

All  voiters  must  bear  lights  of  standard  size  and 
htrength  after  sunset  and  must,  in  addition,  carry 
in  reserve  a  red  danger  lamp,  with  independent 
storage,  which  must  be  immediately  exposed  over 
the  voiter  in  case  of  accident  to  the  regulation 
lights. 

The  casting  of  any  obstruction  on  the  roadway  is 
a  Felony. 

Any  violation  of  these  Regulations  will  be  prose- 
cuted to  the  Full  Extent  of  the  Law. 

WARING, 
I.  &  R.  Commissioner  of  Highways. 

They  read  the  sign  over  and  both  stood  staring  at 
it,  a  puzzled  expression  on  their  faces. 

"  Very  curious !  "  commented  Dean.  "  The  lan- 
guage used  seems  to  me  quite  strange.     Take  that 


OX  THE  BROAD  HIGHWAY  35 

word  voiter,  for  instance.  What  does  it  mean  ?  Did 
you  ever  see  the  word  before  ?  " 

"  Never !  "  declared  Kearns,  still  staring  at  the 
sign-board. 

"  It  is,  I  take  it,"  continued  Dean,  "  a  new-fangled 
word  coined  by  the  makers  of  automobiles  to  desig- 
nate some  new  kind  of  motor  conveyance.  Possibly 
it  is  taken  from  the  French  word  voiture,  which 
means  carriage." 

"What's  puzzling  me,"  said  Kearns,  "  is  the  title 
of  this  fellow  Waring,  who  signs  that  notice.  Read 
it:  'I.  &  R.  Commissioner  of  Highways.'  It's 
high-sounding  enough,  but  what  the  deuce  does  the 
'  I.  &  R.'  stand  for  ?  " 

"  i  I.  &  R.,'  "  repeated  the  Professor,  staring  hard 
at  the  sign.  "  I  find  it  impossible  to  imagine  what 
those  letters  stand  for.  If  we  were  in  Europe,  I 
should  instantly  surmise  the  meaning,  but  we  are  in 
the  United  States." 

"  Yes ;  we're  in  the  United  States,"  replied  Kearns, 
"  and  here  we  see  those  letters  only  around  election 
time  —  '  I  '  for  Independent  and  '  R  '  for  Republi- 
can. But  that  wouldn't  explain  matters  here ;  for 
what's  the  meaning  of  the  '  and  '  between  the  two 
letters  ?  Well,  I  don't  suppose  we'll  find  out  by 
standing  here  in  the  sun  staring  at  that  big  board. 
Besides,  I  don't  care  a  rap  whether  this  Waring  is 
a  Republican  or  a  confounded  Independent.  Let's 
have  another  little  nip  from  the  flask  to  recruit  our 
strength  and  move  on." 

"  I  seldom  indulge,"  began  the  Professor,   "  but 


"  Don't  be  bashful,  Professor,"  hastily  interposed 
Kearns ;  "  help  yourself." 

After  each  had  thus  refreshed  himself,  they  re- 
newed their  journey. 


36         THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

"  From  your  scornful  reference  to  Independents 
just  now,"  remarked  Dean,  "  you  don't  seem  to  hold 
them  in  very  high  estimation." 

"  Ah,  those  Independents !  "  exclaimed  Kearns, 
with  fine  scorn.  "  It's  my  experience  that  an  Inde- 
pendent is  usually  a  fellow  with  a  keen  eye  to  his 
independent  interest.  His  independence  consists  of 
balancing  his  vote  between  the  two  parties,  with  a 
view  to  casting  it  for  the  side  offering  him  the  higher 
inducement.  A  pest  on  your  Independents,  I  say ! 
But,  hello !  what's  the  matter  with  your  hat  ?  " 

The  sun  was  streaming  fiercely  down  and  the  Pro- 
fessor, to  shield  his  face,  gave  the  brim  of  his  white 
Fedora  a  sharp  pull  over  his  eyes.  But  the  brim 
parted  from  the  crown  and  settled  comically  around 
his  nose.  An  examination  of  the  hat  showed  the 
goods  to  be  in  a  condition  which  Kearns  described 
as  "  absolutely  rotten  "  —  almost  brittle  as  tinder. 

"  A  nice  hat  that !  "  commented  Kearns.  "  Per- 
mit me  to  ask  you  the  classic  question :  Where  did 
you  get  that  hat  ?  " 

"  At  Knox,"  ruefully  answered  the  Professor. 
"  But,"  he  added,  critically  surveying  his  companion, 
"  it  doesn't  seem  to  me  that  you  have  much  to  boast 
about  as  a  Beau  Brummell." 

It  was  Kearns'  turn  to  examine  his  clothes. 
Glancing  down  at  the  blue  serge  suit  he  wore,  he  saw 
that  a  large  section  of  cloth  had  apparently  rotted 
away  from  the  bottom  of  one  of  the  trouser  legs, 
and  the  lining  of  the  coat  had  broken  away  from  the 
material  in  several  places.  Like  the  Professor's  hat, 
the  whole  material  seemed  tinder-like  and  brittle. 
To  add  to  his  discomfiture,  the  leather  of  his  left 
shoe  began  to  part  company  with  the  sole.  Rue- 
fully, Kearns  noted  this  involuntary  disrobement. 
He  had  always  been  somewhat  particular  in  dress. 


ON  THE  BROAD  HIGHWAY  37 

"  Professor,"  he  exclaimed  humorously,  "  if  we 
want  to  keep  our  reputation  for  decency  it's  high  time 
we  reached  home." 

"  Very  high  time,"  assented  Dean  solemnly. 

"  If  we  could  only  get  a  hack,  or  a  conveyance  of 
any  kind,"  lamented  Kearns. 

"  I  would  be  willing  to  ride  home  in  the  bottom 
of  an  express  wagon,"  declared  the  Professor. 
"  Even  a  coal  cart  I  would  not  despise." 

"  But  there's  not  a  vehicle  in  sight !  "  deplored 
Kearns. 

"  Not  even  an  ash-cart,  or  a  hearse,"  declared  the 
Professor. 

"  There's  just  one  more  nip  left  in  the  flask,"  said 
Kearns,  sadly;  "let's  take  that  and  move  on." 

"  I   rarely  indulge,"   began  the   Professor,    "  but 


"Yes,  I  know!"  interrupted  Kearns  hastily; 
"  you've  mentioned  that  before.  Kindly  help  your- 
self." 

"  But,"  said  the  Professor,  sternly,  "  I  was  going 
to  add  that  I  felt  it  my  duty  to  do  so  upon  this 
occasion  out  of  regard  for  you." 

"  Regard  for  me !  "  exclaimed  Kearns  in  perplex- 
ity. 

"  Yes,"  continued  the  Professor.  "  For  some  time 
past  I  have  noticed,  sir,  that  the  tip  of  your  nose  is 
becoming  unduly  red,  and  that  your  eyes  have  the 
congested  appearance  which  betokens  incipient  in- 
toxication. I  do  not  know,  sir,  whether  in  due  re- 
gard for  you  —  who,  from  the  position  you  hold,  are 
presumed  to  pose  as  a  conservator  of  public  morals  — 
it  is  not  my  duty  to  forthwith  dispose  of  that  little 
which  yet  remains  in  this  pernicious  flask." 

"  Professor,"  declared  Kearns,  mockingly,  "  out 
of  consideration  for  you,  I  have  hesitated  to  speak 


38         THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

earlier,  but  it  now  is  incumbent  upon  me  to  say  that 
I  have  had  my  eye  on  you  for  more  than  ten  minutes 
past.  You,  as  an  instructor  of  the  community  and  a 
trainer  of  budding  youth,  should  stand  forth  as  a 
firm  and  shining  example  of  all  that  is  straightfor- 
ward and  goodly,  and  yet  it  is  my  duty  to  inform 
you  that  your  present  way  is  not  straightforward  nor 
is  your  walk  upright.  In  a  word,  you  are  staggering, 
Professor." 

"  Sir !  "  exclaimed  the  Professor  with  dignity. 

"  A  fact,  sir !  "  declared  Kearns.  "  I  will  draw  a 
mark  upon  this  path  and  I'll  wager  two  to  one 
you  can't  walk  it  in  a  straight  line." 

"  I  can't  accept  your  test,"  said  the  Professor  cau- 
tiously. "  I'm  somewhat  fatigued  to-day  and  I  admit 
a  certain  peculiar  weakness  in  the  knees." 

"  H'm  !  "  exclaimed  Kearns. 

"  Shall  we  divide  % "  asked  the  Professor  softly, 
holding  the  flask  in  his  hand. 

"  Agreed  !  "  whispered  back  Kearns. 

Once  more  they  started,  speculating  as  they  went 
over  what  strange  necromancy  the  Doctor  could  have 
exerted  to  work  such  curious  effects  alike  upon  their 
surroundings  and  their  persons.  When  about  a  mile 
from  the  village  they  saw  approaching  two  women, 
carrying  between  them  a  basket. 

"  Good-day,  Ma'am,"  said  Kearns  with  much  po- 
liteness, as  they  met ;  "  it's  a  warm  day." 

"  Yes,  sir,"  answered  the  elder  woman,  "  it  is  a 
warm  day,  but  seasonable  for  this  time  of  year." 

"  Why,"  said  Kearns,  "  you  don't  usually  have  it 
as  warm  as  this  out  here  so  early  in  the  year,  do 
you  %  " 

"  Early  in  the  year !  "  exclaimed  the  woman. 
"  Sure  it's  not  too  warm  for  the  end  of  July." 

The  end  of  July! 


01s   THE  BROAD  HIGHWAY  39 

Kearns  arid  the  Professor  turned  to  each  other  in 
bewilderment.  It  was  the  tenth  day  of  June  when 
they  had  started  on  the  walk  with  Dr.  Jaquet,  and 
here  was  this  woman  telling  them  it  was  the  end  of 
July.  Oh,  monstrous,  incredible !  They  had  slept 
a  full  six  weeks ! 

"  Then,  too,  sir,"  continued  the  woman,  who 
seemed  not  disinclined  to  rest  her  heavy  basket  and 
indulge  in' a  little  gossip,  "  it's  always  apt  to  be  warm 
on  a  hot  day  around  fourteen  o'clock." 

"  Around  fourteen  o'clock !  "  repeated  Kearns  and 
the  Professor,  both  agape. 

"  Yes;  but  I  consider  fifteen  o'clock  to  be  the  hot- 
test hour  of  the  day." 

"  Fifteen  o'clock !  "  echoed  the  men. 

"  Tell  me,"  said  Kearns,  after  a  pause,  "  what's 
the  name  of  that  village  V 

"  Pemberton,  sir." 

"  Pemberton  — ■  Pemberton,"  repeated  Kearns. 
"  I  thought  I  knew  all  the  places  in  this  section,  yet 
I  never  heard  of  Pemberton.  Can  you  tell  me  in 
which  direction  lies  Averill  ?  " 

"  Averill,  sir  ?     I  never  heard  the  name." 

"  Have  you  lived  here  long  ?  " 

"  All  my  life." 

Kearns  paused  a  moment  thoughtfully.  Then  a 
sudden  thought  occurred  to  him. 

"  You  say  this  is  the  end  of  July  ?  " 

"  Yes  sir ;  the  twenty-fifth." 

"  Any  news  lately  about  the  nominations  ?  " 

"  Nominations,  sir !  "  repeated  the  woman ;  "  what 
nominations  ? " 

"  Why,  the  Presidential,  of  course !  " 

"  The  Presidential,"  repeated  the  woman  blankly. 

"  Yes,"  said  Kearns,  gently ;  "  the  Presidential 
nominations." 


40  THE  FIKST  AMERICAN  KING 

The  woman  made  no  reply ;  she  stood  staring 
blankly  at  the  speaker. 

The  younger  woman  all  this  time  had  been  eyeing 
the  wayfarers  with  curiosity.  Into  her  brown  eyes 
there  now  came  a  look  of  suspicion  and  mistrust. 

"  Mother,"  she  whispered,  plucking  the  elder  wo- 
man by  the  sleeve,  "  we'd  better  be  going."  And 
she  caught  up  one  end  of  the  basket. 

The  situation  was  certainly  embarrassing. 
Kearns  made  a  hasty  endeavor  to  turn  the  subject. 

"  The  village  seems  a  good  way  off  and  we  are 
tired,"  he  said.  "  Do  you  think,  if  we  wait  here, 
we  might  get  a  horse  and  carriage  to  take  us  to  the 
village  ?  " 

The  woman  glanced  sharply  at  him  and  gathered 
up  her  end  of  the  basket.  She  and  her  daughter 
started  on  their  way.  As  she  passed  ^Kearns,  she 
turned  her  head. 

"  It's  ill  work,"  she  said,  "  a-poking  fun  at  those 
who've  given  you  naught  but  civil  answers." 

Kearns  and  Dean  stood  watching  the  retreating 
figures  as  they  passed  down  the  road.  Suddenly,  as 
by  one  impulse,  they  faced  each  other.  The  Profes- 
sor laid  his  hand  upon  Kearns'  shoulder. 

"  The  twenty-fifth  of  July  —  did  you  hear  that 
woman  say " 

"  Yes ;  I  heard,"  answered  Kearns,  slowly. 

"  If  her  statement  be  true,  we  have  been  dead  to 
the  world  for  a  good  six  weeks." 

Both  men  stood  silent  for  a  moment.  Then  the 
Professor  again  spoke : 

"  These  strange  surroundings  —  the  queer  actions 
of  these  people !     What  can  it  all  mean  ?  " 

"  Mean  !  "  answered  Kearns  with  a  laugh.  "  It 
begins  to  look  as  if  we  were  either  mad,  or  be- 
witched !  " 


CHAPTER  II 

THE  MAN  WITH  THE  COCKED  HAT. 

For  a  long  minute  they  stood  there,  facing  each 
other,  undecided  and  perplexed,  bewildered  by  the 
strangeness  of  the  situation.     Kearns  spoke  first. 

"  The  end  of  our  trouble  lies  there,"  he  exclaimed, 
pointing  to  the  village.  "  I'm  hungry,  thirsty  and 
tired.     Come !  " 

"  I  agree  with  you,"  answered  the  Professor.  "  Let 
us  push  on,  by  all  means." 

In  spite  of  heat  and  fatigue  another  half  hour 
found  them  on  the  outskirts  of  the  village.  As  they 
approached  they  were  passed  several  times  by  vehicles 
leaving  the  village  and  proceeding  along  the  road  at 
a  high  rate  of  speed.  The  occupants  of  most  of  these 
vehicles  scanned  the  wayfarers  with  eager  curiosity. 

Reaching  the  village,  the  first  thing  to  attract  their 
attention  was  the  peculiar  construction  of  its  streets. 
The  sidewalks  on  either  side  of  what  appeared  to  be 
the  principal  street  were  moving  sidewalks  and  the 
roadway,  where  the  vehicles  passed  up  and  down, 
was  depressed  to  a  depth  some  twenty  feet  below  the 
level  of  the  sidewalks.  At  all  the  street  crossings 
were  bridges  connecting  the  sidewalks  on  either  side 
of  the  way. 

"  Well,  I'm  blessed !  "  exclaimed  Kearns.  "  I  had 
no  idea  there  was  such  a  town  as  this  in  these  parts, 
or  anywhere  else,  for  that  matter !  " 

"  It  certainly  seems  to  be  a  model  place,"  declared 

41 


42         THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

the  Professor.  "  Just  look,  what  a  splendid  system 
of  separating  the  vehicles  from  pedestrians." 

"  If  such  a  system  could  be  adopted  in  the  city, 
it  would  annually  save  many  lives  now  lost  in  street 
accidents,"  remarked  Kearns. 

The  second  house  before  them  was  a  comfortable 
inn,  with  a  low,  wide  porch,  holding  a  number  of 
tables  where  sat  men  drinking. 

"  I  am  really  very  thirsty,"  said  the  Professor. 
"  Let  us  refresh  ourselves  here  before  going  further. 
Shall  we  take  a  table  on  the  porch  ?  " 

"  No,"  suggested  Kearns,  "  let's  go  inside.  We'll 
probably  get  quicker  service." 

They  ascended  the  two  steps,  crossed  the  porch  and 
entered  what  appeared  to  be  the  bar-room.  It  was 
spacious,  with  tables  and  chairs  on  either  side  of  the 
entrance  and  with  a  long  bar  facing  the  door.  Be- 
hind the  bar  stood  a  white- jacketed  bartender. 

"  What  will  you  have  ?  "  inquired  Kearns,  as  they 
reached  the  bar. 

"  A  long  drink  of  Rhine  wine  and  seltzer,"  an- 
swered the  Professor. 

Kearns  turned  to  the  bartender. 

"  A  long  drink  of  Rhine  wine  and  seltzer  and  a 
high  ball." 

"  A  long  drink  of  Rhine  wine  and  seltzer  and  a 
2" 

"  High  ball." 

"  High  ball  ?  Never  heard  of  it,"  the  bartender 
said  thoughtfully. 

"  What !  "  exclaimed  Kearns.  "  Never  heard  of 
a  high  ball  ?  It's  the  most  popular  drink  in  the 
country." 

"  That's  likely,  isn't  it  ? "  answered  the  bartender, 
with  some  scorn.  "  I've  worked  in  a  good  many 
places  in  New  York  and  I  never  heard  of  it." 


THE  MAN  WITH  THE  COCKED  HAT  43 

"  Never  heard  of  it !  "  cried  Kearns.  "  Why, 
man,  the  head  barkeeper  of  the  Waldorf-xistoria  told 
me  a  couple  of  weeks  —  that  is  —  ah  —  a  couple  of 
months  ago  —  that  they  sold  over  two  hundred  high 
balls  a  day." 

"  The  Waldorf-Astoria/'  repeated  the  bartender, 
shortly ;  "  what's  that  ?  " 

Kearns  could  only  gasp  in  astonishment. 

"  The  Waldorf-Astoria,"  repeated  the  bartender 
meditatively;  "  oh,  yes!  I  think  I  remember  now. 
Isn't  that  the  big  restorang  and  commercial  lodging- 
house  'way  down  below  Forty-second  Street  some- 
where ?  Sure,  I  remember,  now.  I  couldn't  tell  you 
what  they  may  sell  in  a  place  like  that.  I've  always 
worked  in  first-class  places.  How  did  you  say  that 
drink  is  made  ?  " 

"  Simply  a  little  whiskey  and  a  long  dash  of  selt- 
zer," said  Kearns,  wearily. 

"Oh!"  answered  the  bartender  airily;  "that's  a 
Marquanna  —  called  after  the  famous  Marquis  Mar- 
quanna." 

"  Call  it  what  you  like,"  said  Kearns  testily,  "  but 
serve  it  up ;  I'm  parched  with  thirst.  Give  me  Hunt- 
er whiskey." 

"  What  whiskey  ?  " 

"  Hunter." 

"  Never  heard  of  it !  " 

"  Great  Scott !  "  cried  Kearns.  "  What  have  you, 
then  ? " 

"  What  brands  ?     Why,  we  have  both." 

"Both?     How  do  you  call  them?" 

"  Imperial  Court  and  Consolidated  Trust." 

"  Never  heard  of  either  of  them,"  retorted  Kearns, 
maliciously.  "  However,  give  me  either  one ;  only 
hurry." 

The  bartender  produced  a  long-necked  bottle  of 


44         THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

Rhine  wine  and  a  peculiar  wicker-covered  bottle  of 
seltzer.  The  whiskey  he  measured  out  and  poured 
into  a  tall  glass.     Then  he  added  the  seltzer. 

Both  the  wayfarers  emptied  their  glasses  in  one 
long,  greedy  draught. 

"  That  really  went  down  well !  "  remarked  the 
Professor  as  he  laid  aside  his  glass. 

"  So  well,"  replied  Kearns,  "  that  I  think  we 
might  venture  once  again.  What  say  you,  Profes- 
sor?" 

"  I  rarely  —  "  began  the  Professor. 

"  Eill  them  up  again,"  ordered  Kearns  of  the  bar- 
tender. 

At  this  moment  there  was  a  commotion  at  the 
other  end  of  the  bar-room  which  attracted  general 
attention.  Ranged  against  the  wall  were  three 
strange  looking  machines,  remotely  suggestive  of  bar- 
ber chairs.  There  was  a  man  seated  in  each  of  two 
of  the  machines,  which,  with  a  gentle  whirr  of  wheels, 
were  in  operation.  They  were  automatic  shaving 
machines,  operated  by  depositing  a  coin  in  the  slot. 

The  commotion  which  had  been  caused  grew  out  of 
the  fact  that  one  of  the  machines  had  apparently  be- 
come disordered,  which  resulted  in  the  occupant  of 
its  chair  receiving  a  slight  gash  upon  one  side  of 
his  chin.  The  person  thus  mutilated  was  furious. 
He  sprang  from  the  chair  and,  seizing  his  walking 
stick,  began  furiously  belaboring  the  machine. 

"The  Chinese  pest  seize  (whack  !  whack  !)  this 
confounded,  infernal  machine  (whack!  whack!)  it's 
gone  and  cut  me  nearly  clean  through  to  the  teeth 
(whack!  whack!  whack!)  I'll " 

"  Hi !  Hold  on  there !  "  yelled  the  man  in  the 
adjoining  machine.  "  You're  shaking  this  automat 
of  mine,  sir,  so  that  it's  trembling  all  over;  just  at 
the  moment,  too,  when  the  knife's  over  my  gullet." 


THE  MAN  WITH  THE  COCKED  HAT  45 

"  I  don't  care !  "  howled  back  the  man  with  the 
stick.  "  I've  been  cut  and  I'll  never  stop  until  I've 
smashed  this  infernal  thing  into  bits."  And  he 
banged  away  at  the  machine. 

"  Stop,  I  say !  "  yelled  the  other  man,  with  bulg- 
ing eyes,  "  I  can  feel  the  knife  entering  my  skin. 
If  I'm  cut,  I'm  liable  to  get  the  erysipelas.  By  heav- 
en, sir,  if  you  make  this  automat  cut  me,  I'll  have 
your  blood !  " 

The  bartender,  scenting  a  tragedy,  ran  from  be- 
hind the  bar  and  succeeded  finally  in  pacifying  the 
man  with  the  stick. 

"  It  isn't  often  those  machines  get  out  of  order," 
said  the  bartender  as  he  returned  to  his  post,  "  but 
when  they  do,  it's  apt  to  make  customers  mad." 

"  They  are  automatic  shaving  machines,  I  see," 
remarked  Kearns. 

''  Yes ;  and  a  mighty  handy  and  ingenious  inven- 
tion they  are,"  answered  the  bartender.  "  You  drop 
a  dime  in  the  slot  and  you  get  a  light  or  close  shave, 
as  you  may  desire,  and  your  photograph  thrown  in 
at  the  end  of  the  operation.  Did  vou  ever  try 
them  %  " 

"  No." 

"  Then  you  ought  to,"  urged  the  bartender. 

"  Never !  "  said  Kearns  with  decision.  "  I  find 
it  bad  enough  to  have  my  nose  tweaked  and  my  face 
bedaubed  by  a  human,  but  never  will  I  trust  my  life 
to  any  confounded  machine  of  this  character.  By  the 
way,  you  may  serve  up  those  drinks  I  ordered." 

"  Same  ?  "  inquired  the  bartender. 

"  Yes ;  that  was  pretty  good  whiskey,"  said  Kearns. 
"  What  did  you  say  was  the  brand  ?  " 

"  Imperial  Court." 

"  And  the  other  brand  you  have  ?  " 

"  Consolidated  Trust." 


46         THE  FIEST  AMERICAN  KING 

"  Well,"  exclaimed  Kearns,  "  I  must  say  I  don't 
like  your  names.  I  am  equally  opposed  to  Im- 
perialism and  to  Trusts.  Between  the  two  evils, 
I  don't  know  which  to  choose.  However,  as  I  have 
tried  the  Imperial  brand,  this  time  I'll  go  in  for  the 
Trust." 

The  bartender  gave  the  speaker  a  quick,  sharp 
glance.  Then  he  winked  warningly  and  rolled  his 
eyes  in  the  direction  of  one  of  the  tables  at  which  two 
men  were  seated.  These  two  men  were  intently 
watching  Kearns  and  his  companion,  and  as  the  for- 
mer turned,  following  the  direction  of  the  bartender's 
glance,  both  men  hastily  looked  away  and  assumed 
an  air  of  listless  indifference.  One  of  the  men  was 
small,  with  a  blond  mustache,  blue  eyes  and  a  squint. 
His  companion  was  tall,  thin  and  dark.  In  the  mean- 
time, the  bartender  was  preparing  the  drinks  or- 
dered. 

He  served  these  and,  their  first  thirst  somewhat 
appeased,  the  travelers  this  time  put  down  the  glasses 
only  half  emptied.  Kearns  laid  a  fifty-cent  piece  on 
the  counter  in  payment.  The  bartender  picked  it 
up  and  eyed  it  curiously.  Then  he  laid  it  carefully 
away,  not  in  the  cash  drawer,  but  among  some  small 
glasses  on  one  of  the  shelves  of  the  bar. 

"  Let  us  have  some  cigars,"  suggested  the  Profes- 
sor. 

"  Good  idea !  "  exclaimed  Kearns,  turning  to  the 
bartender ;  "  cigars,  if  you  please." 

His  voice  was  pitched  somewhat  higher  than  usual 
and  his  face  was  slightly  flushed.  It  was  as  if  the 
two  drinks  he  had  taken  had  gone  a  bit  to  his  head. 
Curious  that  a  six  weeks'  abstinence  should  make 
a  man  so  susceptible  ! 

"  What  kind  of  a  town  is  this,  anyway,"  said  he 
to  the  barkeeper,  in  a  tone  of  banter,  "  where  you 


THE  MAN  WITH  THE  COCKED  HAT  47 

don't  keep  any  of  the  popular  brands  of  whiskey  and 
where  I  don't  see  a  campaign  banner,  though  the 
election  is  coming !  " 

"  Election !  "  repeated  the  barkeeper  blankly. 

"  Election  is  what  I  said,"  repeated  Kearns  with 
emphasis.  "  Which  way  does  this  town  go  —  Dem- 
ocratic or  Republican  ?  " 

The  bartender  stared  first  at  the  speaker  and  then 
turned  an  uneasy  eye  toward  the  two  men  at  the 
table. 

"  We  are  loyal  here  —  loyal !  "  he  stammered  at 
last. 

"  Loyal !  "  cried  Kearns,  flushing,  "  loyal  to  what  ? 
The  existing  administration,  I  suppose  you  mean  ?  " 

"  Yes ;  to  the  —  to  the  —  existing  administration," 
stammered  the  barkeeper  confusedly. 

At  this  point  Dean  interposed,  with  some  show  of 
warmth. 

"  Then,"  he  cried,  "  I  feel  sorry  for  your  intelli- 
gence, for  there  was  never  a  bigger  nest  of  corruption- 
ists  and  oppressors  of  the  people  than  the  existing 
administration !  " 

As  these  words  were  uttered  there  was  a  murmur 
and  a  strange  commotion  in  the  place.  The  man 
with  the  squint  left  the  table  and  quickly  passed  out. 
His  companion  rose  and  placed  himself  at  the  door, 
as  if  to  check  any  attempt  at  exit.  The  bartender 
turned  pale  as  one  of  his  clouts  behind  the  bar. 

"  Hush,"  he  whispered,  apprehensively ;  "  hush  ! 
You  will  get  yourselves  into  trouble  and  the  house 
will  lose  its  license." 

"  A  pretty  state  of  things,"  retorted  the  Professor, 
"  when  a  free  American  citizen  cannot  speak  his  mind 
openly.  I  say  it,  and  I  don't  care  who  hears  me, 
that  I  am  opposed  to  Corruption,  Imperialism  and 
Trusts!" 


48         THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

"  GO !  "  cried  the  barkeeper,  with  the  air  of  a  man 
wrought  by  his  fears  to  a  pitch  of  rage.  "  Out  you 
go,  I  say !     You  can't  talk  that  way  in  here !  " 

"  All  right !  "  interposed  Kearns,  apparently  much 
amused  at  the  warmth  displayed ;  "  this  gentleman 
has  told  you  his  views  and  we'll  now  take  our  cigars, 
and  go." 

"  Xo !  no !  "  cried  the  bartender,  hastily  removing 
the  cigar  boxes ;  "  go  now  —  quick !  " 

But  at  this  instant  there  was  a  sound  of  feet  at  the 
entrance  and  the  little  man  with  the  squint  re- 
appeared, accompanied  by  a  gorgeous  creature  in  uni- 
form and  cocked  hat.  The  two  stepped  up  to  Kearns 
and  the  Professor,  while  the  dark  man  still  main- 
tained his  position  at  the  door. 

"  Come !  "  said  the  man  in  uniform  curtly. 

"  Why  —  what  do  you  mean  ?  "  exclaimed  Kearns. 

"  You  are  under  arrest  —  both !  "  said  the  man 
with  the  squint. 

"  Arrest !  "  exclaimed  the  Professor  excitedly. 

"Arrest!"  cried  Kearns  angrily.  "Why,  what 
the  devil  do  you  mean,  sir  ?  I  am  Thomas  Kearns, 
of  Xew  York,  and  I'll  make  it  precious  hot  for  you 
if  you  attempt  any  pleasantries  with  me !  " 

The  little  man  regarded  the  speaker  with  an  evil 
and  contemptuous  leer. 

"  I  don't  care  who  you  be,"  he  said.  "  I  arrest 
you  both." 

"  Eor  what  ?  "  interposed  the  Professor. 

"  Sedition,"  said  the  little  man. 

"  Sedition!  "  cried  Kearns,  with  a  guffaw;  "sedi- 
tion, eh  ?     And  by  what  authority,  pray  ?  " 

The  squint  in  the  man's  eyes  became  more  pro- 
nounced. He  made  a  signal  to  his  companion  at  the 
door.  The  man  in  uniform  laid  his  hand  upon  the 
Professor's  arm. 


THE  MAN  WITH  THE  COCKED  HAT  49 

"  By  what  authority  ?  "  again  demanded  Kearns. 

The  man  threw  back  his  coat  and  displayed  a  re- 
splendent badge.  Then  came  the  answer  to  Kearns' 
question : 

"  In  the  name  of  the  King  !  " 


CHAPTER  III 

A    STRANGE   REVELATION 

"  In  the  name  of  the  King !  "  cried  Kearns,  half 
indignantly,  half  amused.  "  I'm  sure  I  don't  under- 
stand what  you're  driving  at;  but  from  that  badge 
I  take  it  you  represent  the  Law,  and  the  Law  I  am 
always  willing  to  obey.  I'll  go  with  you ;  but  I  warn 
you,  you'll  suffer  for  this  work !  " 

The  two  men  made  no  reply  to  this  threat,  but 
placing  themselves  on  either  side  of  him  they  marched 
out  of  the  place,  followed  by  the  man  in  uniform, 
with  Dean  in  charge.  As  they  passed  along  the 
street,  several  loiterers  and  a  number  of  small  boys 
followed  in  their  wake.  The  prisoners  seemed  to 
arouse  the  greatest  curiosity. 

Their  captors  hurried  them  along  at  a  rapid  gait  to 
a  neat  stone  building,  with  two  imposing  green  lamps 
outside.  Up  a  short  flight  of  stone  steps  the  prison- 
ers were  hustled  and  into  a  spacious  room,  where 
behind  a  large  desk  sat  a  man  in  uniform.  Before 
the  desk  the  party  lined  up. 

"  Is  this  the  Sergeant  ?  "  asked  Kearns,  surveying 
curiously  the  official  uniform. 

"  Lieutenant,"  curtly  answered  the  man  behind  the 
desk.  "  What's  the  charge  %  "  he  asked  sharply,  turn- 
ing to  the  little  man  with  the  squint. 

"  Treasonable  and  seditious  utterances  in  a  public 
place,  Lieutenant,"  answered  the  little  man  glibly. 
"  Utterances  in  violation  of  the  statute  and  against 

51 


52         THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

the  peace  of  His  Majesty,  the  King,  his  crown  and 
dignity." 

"  Did  you  take  exact  note  of  these  utterances  ?  " 
asked  the  official. 

"  I  did,  Lieutenant." 

"  Give  them." 

In  obedience  to  the  command,  the  man  gave  a 
fairly  faithful  repetition  of  the  words  uttered  by  the 
Professor  in  the  bar-room. 

He  who  was  addressed  as  Lieutenant  looked  seri- 
ous. 

"  Your  name,"  he  demanded  of  Kearns. 

"  Thomas  Kearns,"  was  the  answer,  impressively 
given ;  "  and  I'm  chief  of  detectives  of  the  New  York 
police." 

The  Lieutenant  glanced  up  quickly,  with  an  aston- 
ished look. 

"  My  name  isn't  unfamiliar,  perhaps,"  continued 
Mr.  Kearns  with  some  sarcasm. 

The  Lieutenant  laughed  softly. 

"  Yes,"  he  replied,  "  the  name  is  familiar  to  me. 
So  is  that  of  Captain  Kidd,  and  other  legendary 
heroes  of  the  past.  Thomas  Kearns,  eh  ?  There 
isn't  a  small  boy  in  the  country  who  doesn't  know  the 
name  and  who  hasn't  read  of  his  exploits." 

For  a  moment  Kearns  stood  silent,  as  if  he  hardly 
gathered  the  sense  of  the  words.  Then  his  face 
flushed  and  he  found  voice. 

"  You  talk  about  the  past,"  he  said,  in  incisive 
tones.  "  I  don't  understand  you.  I  am  the  Chief 
of  the  Department  I  have  named — right  now — at  this 
present  moment;  and  that  fact,  I  think,  you'll  not 
find  disputed  by  any  member  of  the  Uniformed 
Force,  be  his  rank  what  it  may.  If  you  have  any 
doubt,  I  would  suggest  that  you  telephone  to  Official 
Headquarters  in  New  York." 


A  STRANGE  REVELATION  53 

"  Telephone !"  ejaculated  the  Lieutenant.  Again 
he  laughed  amusedly. 

"  I  said  telephone,"  retorted  Kearns  sharply. 
"  Perhaps,"  he  added  scornfully,  "  you  are  not 
equipped  with  such  an  instrument  here !  " 

"  Scarcely,"  answered  the  Lieutenant  with  a  sniff, 
casting  his  eye  toward  a  handsome  looking  instrument 
at  the  further  end  of  the  room.  "  A  telephone,  eh  ? 
Yes,  I  remember  some  time  ago  seeing  one  displayed 
as  a  curiosity  at  the  Eden  Musee  in  New  York. 
Quite  an  interesting  antique !  " 

"  Sir,"  said  Kearns  sternly ;  "  I  haven't  time  to 
bandy  foolish  words  with  you.  My  friend  and  I  are 
tired  and  we  wish  to  go  home  at  once.  I  want  to  ask 
you  what  kind  of  a  charge  this  is  upon  which  your 
men  have  dared  to  arrest  two  reputable  citizens." 

"  Unless  the  Medical  Examiner  declares  them  irre- 
sponsible," answered  the  Lieutenant  sarcastically, 
"  the  two  reputable  citizens  are  likely  to  find  this  mat- 
ter pretty  serious  before  they  get  through  with  it." 

"  This  is  outrageous !"  exclaimed  Kearns,  his  anger 
rising.  "  Your  behavior,  sir,  is  infamous.  If  you 
occupied  a  similar  position  in  the  city  to  that  which 
you  do  here,  I  would  have  you  brought  up  on  charges 
and  reduced  to  the  ranks  for  such  conduct." 

The  Lieutenant  paid  no  heed  to  this  outbreak. 

"  Your  residence  %  "  he  demanded  in  formal  tones. 

Before  Kearns  could  reply,  the  door  of  the  station 
house  was  thrown  hurriedly  open  and  a  tall,  portly 
man,  with  red  face,  iron  gray  hair  and  side  whiskers, 
bustled  in.  The  Lieutenant  turned  his  eyes  toward 
the  newcomer  and  then  raised  his  hand  in  military 
salute. 

"  Are  these  the  prisoners  ?  "  asked  the  arrival,  walk- 
ing over  to  the  desk. 

"  Yes,  Colonel,"  answered  the  Lieutenant. 


54         THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

"  They  were  found  on  ray  estate  ?  " 

"  No,  Colonel ;  they  were  arrested  at  Tomlinson's." 

"  I  understand ;  but  they  were  originally  found  on 
my  lands." 

"  That  I  know  nothing  about,  Colonel.     I " 

"  What  do  they  say — what  have  you  found  out 
about  them  ?  "  interrupted  the  Colonel  eagerly. 

"  Nothing  as  yet.  I  was  about  to  take  the  record 
when  you  came  in." 

"  I  will  question  them  myself,"  said  the  Colonel. 
He  turned  to  the  prisoners.  His  manner  betrayed  a 
certain  curiosity  and  eagerness,  but  his  tone  was 
kindly  and  gentle. 

"  How  did  you  come  to  be  where  you  were  found  ?  " 
he  asked. 

"The  confounded  Doctor!"  blurted  out  Kearns 
impatiently. 

"  The  Doctor,  eh !  "  exclaimed  the  Colonel  with  in- 
terest.    ''What  doctor?     Tell  me  about  him." 

"  Well,"  answered  Kearns,  hesitating,  "  the  cir- 
cumstances are  somewhat  peculiar  and  I  don't  know 
that  either  my  friend  or  myself  care  to  figure  as  the 
heroes  of  a  sensational  newspaper  story." 

"  I  beg  you,"  said  the  Colonel  with  great  earnest- 
ness, "  to  speak  out  at  once.  I  believe  it  to  be  im- 
portant— extremely  important  that  you  should  do  so." 

Kearns  still  hesitated. 

"  Oh,  tell  the  gentleman  the  state  of  the  case,  by  all 
means,"  exclaimed  the  Professor.  "  I  feel  really 
quite  tired  and  exhausted  and  am  anxious  to  get  as 
quickly  as  possible  out  of  this  dilemma." 

"  Tired — exhausted !  "  cried  the  Colonel.  He 
turned  to  the  Lieutenant.  "  Give  them  chairs.  If 
what  I  suspect  be  true,  it  is  of  the  highest  importance 
that  no  mishap  should  occur  to  them !  " 

Chairs  were  procured  for  the  two  prisoners  and, 


A  STRANGE  REVELATION  55 

when  they  were  seated,  Dean  turned  to  his  companion. 
"  Speak  out  and  end  this  situation,"  he  again  urged. 

"  All  right,"  assented  Kearns.  Without  further 
delay  he  narrated  their  experiences  with  the  Doctor 
in  the  cave.  The  Colonel  listened  with  extraordinary 
interest. 

"  x\nd  so,"  said  Kearns  in  conclusion,  "  if  this  is 
really  the  month  of  July,  as  I've  been  told,  we  must 
have  slept,  or  been  in  a  condition  of  suspended  anima- 
tion, as  that  confounded  Doctor  called  it,  for  a  period 
of  six  weeks.     But,  tell  me,  what  is  the  date  ?  " 

But  the  Colonel,  who  was  looking  at  the  prisoners 
with  absorbed  interest,  did  not  answer.  Instead,  he 
put  the  following  question,  bending  forward  in  eager 
anxiety  for  the  reply : 

"  Can  you  tell  me  the  date  when  you  went  into  that 
cave  and  entered  into  that — ah — sleep  you  have  de- 
scribed ?  " 

"  Certainly,"  answered  Kearns.  "  It  was  June 
the  tenth." 

"  June  the  tenth  of  what  year  ?  " 

"  June  the  tenth,  nineteen  hundred,  of  course." 

"What!" 

"  Whew !  " 

Both  the  Colonel  and  the  Lieutenant  uttered  excla- 
mations. The  Colonel  was  red  and  excited ;  the  Lieu- 
tenant half  rose  from  his  seat  behind  the  desk.  The 
prisoners  stared  in  astonishment.  What  could  there 
be  so  very  extraordinary  in  the  simple  statement  they 
had  made  ? 

There  was  a  dead  pause  for  a  moment.  Then  the 
Colonel  again  turned  to  the  Lieutenant. 

"  This  is  certainly  very  strange — very  wonderful," 
he  said.  "  They  must  be  taken  in  hand  pending  de- 
velopments. Care  must  be  taken  of  them — that  they 
do  not  succumb " 


56  THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

"  What  is  so  strange — what  is  it  that  is  so  wonder- 
ful ?  "  broke  in  the  Professor. 

But  the  Colonel  disregarded  the  question. 

"  I  will  take  them  with  me — to  my  place,"  he  con- 
tinued, addressing  the  Lieutenant.  "  They  will  be 
properly  cared  for  there." 

"  But  the  charge !  How  about  the  charge  which 
has  been  preferred  against  them  ?  " 

"  As  a  county  magistrate,  I  am  empowered  to  ad- 
mit them  to  bail." 

"  That's  true,  Colonel." 

"  Let  the  charge  stand.  For  the  time  being,  I  per- 
mit them  to  go  on  their  own  recognizance.  I  will 
take  care  of  them." 

"  Very  well,  Colonel.  Will  you  please  sign  the 
necessary  papers  ?  " 

"  Yes;  give  them  to  me." 

The  Lieutenant  handed  the  Colonel  a  paper  and  a 
pen  and  the  latter  hastily  scratched  a  signature. 
Then  he  turned  to  Kearns  and  the  Professor. 

"  Come  with  me,"  he  said. 

But  Kearns  demurred. 

"  Will  you  excuse  me,  Colonel,"  he  said ;  "  but 
both  my  friend  and  myself  want  to  go  without  further 
delay  to  our  own  place.  We've  not  the  advantage  of 
your  acquaintance,  and  I'm  sure  I  don't  understand 
the  meaning  of  these  proceedings." 

"  You've  been  arrested  on  a  serious  charge,"  said 
the  Colonel  gravely,  but  with  good  humor,  "  and 
you're  practically  parolled  in  my  custody.  I  don't 
see  what  you  can  very  well  do,  except  take  advantage 
of  my  hospitality,  or  adopt  the  unpleasant  alterna- 
tive of  a  cell." 

"  But,"  began  Kearns  with  indignation,  "  I  must 
assure  you  that " 

"  I  beg  you  not  to  excite  yourselves,"  exclaimed  the 


A  STKANGE  KEVELATION  57 

Colonel,  as  one  might  seek  to  quiet  a  fractious  child. 
"  It  might  be  very  bad  for  you — even  fatal,  under  the 
circumstances.  No  one  can  tell  what  might  happen, 
I  assure  you !     Be  content  to  come  with  me." 

"  Let  us  go  with  the  gentleman,"  urged  the  Profes- 
sor. 

"  Oh,  very  well,"  answered  Kearns.  "  I  have  no 
objection  to  seeing  the  adventure  through  to  the  end." 

"  Come,  Bowman,  come,  Walker,"  said  the  Col- 
onel, turning  to  the  cross-eyed  man  and  his  compan- 
ion ;  "  assist  them  to  my  phaermobile." 

"  I  don't  think  we  need  assistance,  thank  you,"  said 
the  Professor,  rising  and  waving  away  the  tall  dark 
man. 

"  Assistance,  indeed !  "  exclaimed  Kearns  as  he  re- 
pulsed the  cross-eyed  man.     "  I  should  say  not !  " 

"  But  you  might  fall !  Pray  be  careful !  "  urged 
the  Colonel  with  officious  kindness. 

"  I  may  if  I  don't  get  something  to  eat  pretty  soon," 
laughed  Kearns. 

"  Yes ;  it  is  certainly  high  time  we  ate,"  declared 
the  Professor. 

"  Ah,  just  as  I  feared !  "  remarked  the  Colonel 
anxiously. 

By  this  time  they  had  passed  through  the  door  of 
the  station-house.  Outside  stood  one  of  those  curious 
looking  machines  which  Kearns  and  the  Professor 
had  seen  rushing  past  them  on  the  highway.  On  the 
front  seat  sat  a  man,  apparently  the  driver.  Behind 
him,  in  the  body  of  the  vehicle,  were  seats  for  four 
persons. 

"  Step  in,"  said  the  Colonel  cheerily.  Turning  to 
the  cross-eyed  man  and  his  companion,  he  added  warn- 
ingly: 

"  Keep  your  mouths  closed  as  to  this  matter.  Not 
a  word  for  the  present !  " 


58  THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

The  two  men  thus  addressed  clicked  their  heels 
together  and  sainted. 

"  Home,"  said  the  Colonel  to  the  driver,  stepping 
into  the  vehicle,  "  but  not  too  fast !  " 

The  driver  sainted,  turned  a  lever  and  they  were 
off. 

"  And  now  for  a  few  words  of  explanation,"  said 
Kearns  to  the  Colonel. 

"  Not  a  word,  my  good  friends,"  said  the  Colonel 
with  soothing  patronage,  "  until  you  are  thoroughly 
restored — invigorated — out  of  danger !  " 

"  Out  of  danger  ?  "  exclaimed  Kearns  mystified. 

"  What  may  be  your  meaning,  sir  %  "  inquired  the 
Professor. 

Both  stared  at  him  as  if  he  were  a  good-natured 
lunatic. 

"  After  six  weeks  of  fasting,"  said  the  Colonel  dip- 
lomatically, "  a  man  should  be  willing  to  go  quietly 
to  a  meal,  I  think." 

They  had  passed  beyond  the  limits  of  the  town  and, 
having  reached  the  highway,  were  flying  along  at  a 
rapid  rate.  Such  was  their  speed  that  Kearns  and 
the  Professor  were  not  loth  to  hold  their  tongues  and 
attend  to  the  matter  of  breathing.  Along  the  road 
they  flew,  finally  turning  down  a  side  road  and  draw- 
ing up  in  front  of  an  ornamented  iron  gate,  opened 
to  them  by  a  lodge  keeper ;  then  down  a  winding 
path,  bordered  by  trees,  until  they  stopped  before  the 
steps  of  a  stately  house.  The  Colonel  stepped  out  of 
the  vehicle. 

"  Welcome  to  Idleslip !  "  he  said  as  he  politely  as- 
sisted them  to  alight. 

He  led  the  way  up  the  steps,  across  a  spacious  foyer 
and  turned  into  one  of  the  rooms  to  the  left.  Draw- 
ing up  two  comfortable  armchairs,  he  motioned  them 
to  be  seated. 


A  STRANGE  REVELATION  59 

"  Do  you  feel  very  weak  ?  "  he  inquired  with  anx- 
ious concern.  u  Shall  I  order  you  some  refreshment, 
or  don't  you  think  it  would  be  better  to  wait  for  the 
doctor  ?  " 

"  Doctor !  "  cried  Kearns.  "  I  thank  you.  I  have 
had  all  the  doctor  I  want  for  some  time  to  come." 

"  Doctor !  "  exclaimed  the  Professor,  who  regarded 
the  question  in  a  different  light.  "  Let  us  cease  play- 
ing at  cross-purposes.  May  I  ask  you  frankly,  sir, 
why  you  think  we  need  a  physician  ?  " 

■"  Pray  calm  yourselves,"  urged  the  Colonel  sooth- 
ingly, "  or,  as  I  have  already  warned  you,  no  one  can 
foresee  the  results!  See  a  doctor?  Why  not! 
After  your  remarkable — I  may  say,  indeed,  very  ex- 
traordinary experiences " 

"  You  refer  to  our  sleep  in  the  cave  ? "  interposed 
the  Professor.  "  By  the  way,  is  it  really  possible  that 
we  have  slept  six  weeks  ?     What  is  the  date  ?  " 

"No,  no,"  protested  the  Colonel.  "Don't  seek 
any  explanation  now.     Wait  until  later." 

"But  this  delay  is  exasperating,"  persisted  the 
Professor.  "All  these  strange  happenings— this 
mystery— play  upon  my  nerves !  I  must  insist  upon 
an  immediate  explanation.  I  must  ask  you,  Colonel 
— Colonel — pardon  me,  but  what  is  the  name  ?  " 

"  I  am  Colonel,  Sir  Maynard  Cuming." 

"  Sir  Maynard  Cuming !  "  repeated  Kearns  mysti- 
fied. 

"  Sir  Maynard  Cuming !  "  exclaimed  the  Professor, 
passing  his  hand  over  his  eyes.  "  Let  me  ask  you — 
is  this  the  Republic  of  the  United  States,  or  have  we 
in  our  sleep,  or  trance,  been  spirited  into  some  for- 
eign land  ?  " 

"  The  Republic  of  the  United  States  ?  "  said  the 
Colonel  with  a  curious  smile ;  "  Well  —  no !  " 

Kearns    and    the    Professor    rose    to    their    feet. 


60  THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

Kearns"  eyes  were  dilated,  his  hands  clenched.  The 
Professor  was  very  pale. 

"  Speak  !  "  he  said.  "  What  country  is  this  and — 
the  date — what  (  " 

>;  Be  calm,"  urged  the  Colonel.  "  It's  not  well  you 
should  be  told  these  things  now.     Wait  until  later !  " 

The  Professor  advanced  a  step  and  spoke  with  all 
the  concentrated  energy  of  a  thoroughly  aroused  man. 

"  Tell  me  the  truth  now,"  he  said,  "  or  I'll  leave 
at  once  and  seek  it  elsewhere." 

The  Colonel  realized  the  situation  had  reached  a 
climax.     Something  must  be  done. 

"  Since  you  will  have  it  so,"  he  replied  gravely, 
"  I  will  answer  you.  Prepare  yourselves  to  hear 
calmly,  bravely." 

"  Go  on !  "  cried  Kearns  breathlessly. 

"  You  are  at  present,"  answered  the  Colonel, 
speaking  very  slowly  and  distinctly,  "  upon  my  estate 
at  Idleslip,  seven  miles  from  the  county  seat  of  Pem- 
berton.  You  are  in  the  Empire  of  the  United  States, 
within  the  realm  of  His  Majesty,  Imperial  and  Royal, 
William  the  First,  Emperor  of  the  United  States, 
King  of  the  Empire  State  of  New  York  !  " 

His  two  auditors  were  staring  at  him  wide-eyed, 
speechless.  It  was  difficult  to  decide  whether  they 
took  in  the  full  sense  of  his  words. 

"  The  date,"  continued  the  Colonel  with  enforced 
calm,  "  is  July  the  twenty-fifth,  nineteen  hundred 
and  seventy-five.  You  say  you  entered  the  cave  June 
tenth,  nineteen  hundred.  If  your  statement  is  cor- 
rect, you  have  been  in  a  state  of  suspended  animation 
for  seventv-five  vears !  " 


CHAPTER  IV, 

SEARCHING  THE  FILES 

Seventy-five  years ! 

For  a  moment  both  men  stood  breathless,  stupefied. 
A  groan  was  stifled  upon  Kearns'  lips  and  he  leaned 
heavily  upon  the  table  for  support.  The  Professor 
stared  blankly  at  the  speaker,  then  put  both  hands  to 
his  face  and  dropped  back  in  his  chair. 

Was  this  some  grim  and  ghastly  joke ;  some  hideous 
vagary  of  delirium,  or  the  night  ? 

Alas,  no! 

The  events  through  which  they  had  passed ;  the  un- 
familiar scenes  encountered;  the  appurtenances  of 
the  very  room  in  which  they  sat ;  the  manner  of  the 
Colonel — all  proclaimed  the  absence  of  illusion  and 
confirmed  the  existence  of  stern  reality. 

Seventy-five  years ! 

Truly,  only  a  brief  span  in  the  cycle  of  time,  in  the 
relentlessly  automatic  passage  of  the  ages,  but  how 
much  in  the  individual  life  of  man.  Seventy-five 
years  ago — who  inhabited  the  house,  the  spot,  in 
which  we  live  ?  What  was  our  particular  ancestor 
doing;  what  was  he  like;  what  were  his  thoughts, 
ideas,  aspirations,  hopes,  ambitions,  this  day  just  sev- 
enty-five years  ago  ?-  How  many  hustling,  bustling, 
hoping,  fearing,  aspiring  men  and  women  who  have 
since  passed  away  and  of  whom  to-day  there  is  not  a 
human  being  who  knows  that  they  ever  were  on  earth. 
And — seventy-five  years  hence!     Who  will  then  oc- 

61 


62  THE  FIKST  AMERICAN  KING 

cupy  the  house,  the  spot  "where  we  to-day  live  ?  Who 
then,  as  the  days  sweep  by,  will  ever  give  a  passing 
thought  to  us,  or  perchance  even  remember  we  ever 
existed  ? 

So,  then,  three  quarters  of  a  century  had  passed, 
and  with  the  passage  of  time  surroundings  and  condi- 
tions had  also  changed !  And  these  two  fortunate,  or 
unfortunate,  derelicts  of  the  past  —  what  of  them  ? 
They  were  as  relics  of  a  bygone  age;  a  species  of 
human  flotsam  and  jetsam  cast  up  upon  a  foreign 
shore. 

A  sort  of  homesickness,  a  deadly  nostalgia,  was 
upon  them.  Instinctively  they  turned  to  each  other 
for  sympathy. 

Kearns,  with  his  stronger  vitality  and  naturally 
high  spirits,  was  the  quicker  to  recover  from  the 
shock.  He  glanced  down  at  his  strong,  knotted  arm 
and  wrist  resting  on  the  table.  Even  if  he  had  been 
dead  to  the  world  for  all  these  years,  even  if  he  was 
over  a  century  old,  his  muscles  were  as  strong  as  ever 
and  the  flow  of  life  within  him  apparently  unim- 
paired. And  if  a  man's  nerves  have  the  courage  and 
his  heart  beats  strong  and  full  as  at  thirty,  what  mat- 
ter how  many  years  have  passed  over  his  head  I 
Such  was  the  thought  which  surged  through  Keams* 
mind.  "  A  woman  is  as  old  as  she  looks,  a  man  is  as 
old  as  he  feels,"  was  the  inconsequent  and  frivolous 
idea  which  kept  jangling  through  his  brain.  How 
strange  it  is  that  in  the  most  critical  moments  of  our 
lives,  the  incongruous  and  the  odd  will  persist  in  ob- 
truding themselves  upon  our  mental  perception. 

From  the  chaos  of  emotion  the  announcement  had 
developed  in  Kearns,  curiosity  began  to  grow.  He 
roused  himself  and  turned  to  question  the  Colonel. 
But  the  latter  proved  obdurate. 

"  Not  another  word  will  I  tell  you,"  he  declared ; 


SEAKCHIXG  THE  FILES  G3 

"  not  another  word  until  medical  advice  is  at  hand. 
You  can  understand  the  loss  to  the  world  and  to  sci- 
ence should  anything  happen  to  you  at  this  stage. 
I've  sent  for  the  doctor.     He'll  be  here  shortly." 

As  the  Colonel  spoke  there  came  a  rap  on  the  door 
and  the  servant  announced  the  arrival  of  the  Doctor. 

"  Show  him  in  at  once,"  ordered  the  Colonel.  An 
instant  later  a  very  brisk  little  man,  with  red  cheeks, 
black  moustache  and  side  whiskers,  entered  the  room. 

"  Doctor  Robinson  O'Hanlenne,"  announced  the 
Colonel,  who  proceeded  to  explain  briefly  the  circum- 
stances to  the  new  arrival.  From  the  Colonel's  nar- 
rative it  appeared  that  two  of  his  workmen  had  been 
felling  trees  and  laying  out  certain  ground  in  a  dis- 
tant and  hitherto  unused  portion  of  his  estate. 
While  thus  engaged  they  had  found  the  cave  with  the 
two  inanimate  forms  carefully  wrapped  in  rugs  lying 
within.  The  Colonel  told  graphically  the  terror  of 
the  men  as  the  supposed  corpses  revived,  and  their 
flight  when  a  horse  and  carriage  were  demanded  by 
Kearns. 

"  A  horse  and  carriage !  "  exclaimed  the  Doctor, 
with  a  smile. 

"  Precisely ;  a  horse  and  carriage !  " 

And  both  laughed. 

"  The  two  men,"  continued  the  Colonel,  "ran  to 
the  foreman.  Fortunately  I  happened  to  be  with 
him.  At  the  men's  story  I  hurried  to  the  cave.  The 
peculiar  and  elaborate  appointments  of  it  astonished 
me.  In  a  little  side  recess  I  found  some  curious 
notes  and  papers  bearing  on  the  subject  of  mesmeric 
forces  and  suspension  of  animation.  From  the 
ground  I  picked  up  a  piece  of  money.  It  bore  the 
date  eighteen  hundred  and  seventy-six.  '  Come,' 
said  I  to  myself,  '  this  piece  of  money  must  have  been 
coined  at  the  time  of  the  Presidency  of  the  famous 


G4         THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

soldier,  General  Grant.  Such  money  is  surely  not  in 
general  circulation  now  !  '  All  of  these  strange  occur- 
rences began  to  give  me  a  faint  hint  of  the  truth. 
Such  cases  are  not  entirely  unknown  to  our  modern 
science,  I  believe,  although  the  duration  of  the  sleep 
in  this  instance  exceeds  anything  yet  reported." 

"  Quite  so,"  commented  Dr.  O'Hanlenne. 

"  I  started  on  a  hunt  for  my  involuntary  guests," 
continued  the  Colonel,  with  a  smile  at  Kearas  and  the 
Professor.  "  On  the  Pemberton  road  I  luckily  en- 
countered Mrs.  Merriweather  and  her  daughter,  who 
had  met  two  men  who  asked  after  strange  places. 
These  men  had  actually  made  inquiries  for  a  horse 
and  carriage." 

Both  the  Colonel  and  the  Doctor  broke  into  a  guf- 
faw. 

"  Oh,  yes,"  interjected  the  Professor.  "  I  re- 
member the  old  woman — a  queer  sort  of  person  who 
talked  about  fourteen  and  fifteen  o'clock  and  had 
never  heard  of  a  Presidential  election." 

Again  the  Colonel  and  the  Doctor  laughed. 

"  So  you  thought  her  language  queer,  did  you  ?  " 
exclaimed  the  Colonel.  "  Fourteen  and  fifteen 
o'clock  sound  strangely  to  your  ears  ?  Well ;  since 
your  day  we  have  changed  the  nomenclature  of  time 
somewhat  and  I  think  I  may  say  without  vanity  we 
have  improved  upon  your  methods.  Instead  of  your 
a.  m.  and  p.  m.,  which  we  moderns  find  awkward  and 
cumbersome  and  likely  to  lead  to  confusion  in  certain 
instances,  we  divide  the  day  and  night  into  a  straight 
twenty-four  hours.  Thus  we  count  from  midnight 
to  midnight.  One  hour  after  noon  is  with  us  thirteen 
o'clock  and  the  day  closes  at  the  last  stroke  of  mid- 
night, which  we  name  twenty-four  o'clock.  Thus  it 
would  appear  that  old  Mrs.  Merriweather  was  not  so 
much  out  of  the  way,  after  all." 


SEARCHING  THE  FILES  65 

"  Oh,  I  see,"  replied  the  Professor,  "  but  may  I  in- 
quire how  it  was  that  she  had  never  heard  of  the  vil- 
lage of  Averill  and  why  so  much  anger  on  her  part, 
and  merriment  on  yours,  over  our  very  innocent  in- 
quiry for  a  conveyance  ?  " 

"  What  kind  of  a  conveyance  was  it  you  asked 
for  ?  "  inquired  the  Colonel,  with  a  merry  twinkle  in 
his  eyes. 

"  A  horse  and  carriage,  sir,"  answered  the  Profes- 
sor with  dignity. 

The  Doctor  coughed  a  discreet  professional  cough 
and  pressed  his  handkerchief  to  his  lips  in  an  all  too 
evident  attempt  to  conceal  his  merriment.  The 
Colonel  laughed  outright. 

"  Averill,"  said  he,  "  as  I  happen  to  know  from 
certain  old  documents  I  have  had  occasion  to  exam- 
ine, was  an  old-time  village  long  ago  absorbed  by  the 
town  of  Pemberton.  Its  very  name  has  disappeared 
from  local  memory.  I  am  not  astonished  that  Mrs. 
Merriweather  could  not  recall  it.  As  for  your  de- 
mand for  a  horse  and  carriage — why,  my  dear  sir,  it 
is  many,  many  years  since  horses  were  used.  With 
charging  stations  in  every  direction  and  our  systems 
of  drawing  electricity  from  the  clouds,  no  man  could 
afford  to  deal  with  so  slow,  expensive  and  antiquated 
an  object  as  a  horse.  They  are  still  used  for  the  pur- 
poses of  racing  and  His  Majesty,  the  King,  on  certain 
state  occasions  sits  in  the  royal  chariot  drawn  by  four 
horses,  but  for  all  ordinary  uses  the  horse  has  entirely 
disappeared.  You  might  as  well  have  called  for  a 
sedan  chair." 

"  Oh !  "  said  the  Professor  blankly.  "  I  suppose 
I  should  have  asked  for  a  voiter.  What,  by  the  way, 
is  a  voiter  ?  " 

"  Simply  a  modernized  name  for  vehicle,"  replied 
the  Colonel. 


6G  TILE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

"  Do  you  happen  to  have  a  public  official  named 
Waring  ?  "  asked  Kearns. 

"  Yes,"  answered  the  Colonel.  "  lie  is  the  Im- 
perial and  Royal  Commissioner  of  Highways,  and 
the  best  man  for  the  post  we  have  ever  had !  How 
did  you  come  to  know  of  him  ?  " 

"  I  saw  him  stuck  up  on  the  sign-board,"  said 
Kearns  absently. 

"  Stuck  up  on  the  sign-board !  "  exclaimed  the  Col- 
onel, somewhat  puzzled. 

"  Yes ;  his  name  was  signed  to  the  notice  to  travel- 
ers," explained  Kearns. 

"  Oh,  I  see !  "  replied  the  Colonel. 

"  Well,"  said  Kearns  regretfully,  "  I'm  rather 
sorry  to  learn  about  the  retirement  of  the  horses.  I 
was  always  very  fond  of  them." 

"  You  will  find  a  good  phaermobile  much  more 
effective,"  answered  the  Colonel  with  a  smile. 
"  But,"  he  continued  turning  to  the  Doctor,  "  I  must 
continue  my  story.  I  followed  our  two  friends  along 
their  course  and  the  trail  they  had  left  was  a  pretty 
broad  one.  I  finally  traced  them  to  the  station- 
house." 

"  The  station-house !  "  exclaimed  the  Doctor. 

"  Yes,"  answered  the  Colonel ;  "  there  on  a  charge 
of  seditious  utterances — in  the  position  of  conspira- 
tors  against  the  peace  and  dignity  of  His  Majesty, 
the  King." 

The  Doctor  laughed. 

"  I  rescued  them  from  their  perilous  situation," 
continued  the  Colonel,  "  and  then  came  the  most  start- 
ling disclosure  of  all." 

"  Which  was?  "  inquired  the  Doctor. 

"  They  then  informed  me,"  said  the  Colonel  sol- 
emnly, "  that  they  had  entered  the  cave  and  had  been 
there  since  June  the  tenth,  ninteen  hundred !  " 


SEARCHING  THE  FILES  67 

"  Since  June  the  tenth,  nineteen  hundred !  "  ex- 
claimed the  Doctor.  "  Extraordinary !  Marvelous ! 
Still  the  case  is  not  without  some  precedents.  The 
famous  Doctor  Fredicus,  of  Berlin,  reports  a  case  of 
suspended  animation  lasting  for  ten  months,  but  any- 
thing like  the  lapse  of  time  in  this  case  is  certainly 
without  parallel." 

"  I  trust  that  you  do  not  doubt  our  word,"  said 
Kearns  with  dignity. 

But  the  Professor  turned  upon  him. 

"  Doubt  our  word !  "  he  exclaimed.  "  Who  could 
credit  such  a  preposterous  statement  without  some 
tangible  evidence  to  support  it.  We  must  appear  in 
the  light  of  either  falsifiers  or  lunatics  !  " 

"  Doubt  your  word !  "  exclaimed  the  Colonel  im- 
pulsively. "  I  beg  you  not  to  think  of  such  construc- 
tion. There  may  be  some  mistake,  some  possible  in- 
accuracy ;  but,  if  so,  I  am  convinced  it  is  entirely  un- 
intentional." 

''Thank  you,"  said  the  Professor  gratefully ;  "  I'm 
unable  to  think  clearly  just  now  owing  to  this  very 
perplexing  situation  in  which  we  find  ourselves,  but 
is  there  not  some  way  by  which  our  statement  could 
be  effectively  tested  and  either  proved,  or  disproved  ?  " 

"  A  good  idea !  "  exclaimed  Kearns.  "  Yes ; 
surely  there  must  be  many  ways.  The  newspapers, 
for  instance;  they  must  certainly  have  reported  our 
disappearance.  In  your  public  libraries  there  are 
undoubtedly  bound  copies  of  the  newspapers  of  that 
period.  That  is,"  he  added,  turning  doubtfully  to 
the  Colonel,  "  if  public  libraries  have  not  ceased  to 
exist  in  these  times,  like  the  horse,  the  high  ball,  and 
other  cherished  institutions." 

"  No,"  answered  the  Colonel,  laughing,  "  we  still 
have  public  libraries,  and  noble  ones,  thanks  to  num- 
erous karnegians  on  the  part  of  wealthy  decedents." 


68         THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

"  Numerous  what,  did  you  say  ?  "  inquired  Kearns. 

"  Karnegians,"  repeated  the  Colonel.  "  Oh,  per- 
haps that's  a  new  word  to  you.  *  To  karnegy  '  is  a 
verb  meaning  the  acquirement  of  a  mania  for  post- 
mortem advertising  and  for  leaving  one's  wealth  to 
public  institutions,  to  the  disappointment  of  one's 
heirs.  The  noun  '  karnegian  '  is  defined  as  the  gift 
of  such  character.  But,"  continued  the  Colonel, 
"  we  need  not  resort  to  the  public  libraries.  Here  in 
my  own  library,  which  you  will  find  a  very  fair  one, 
there  are  bound  newspaper  files  stretching  back  over 
a  period  of  many  years.  The  collection  was  begun 
by  my  grandfather  and  I  have  hoped  I  might  com- 
plete it  to  a  full  century  of  newspapers." 

"  Might  we  inspect  the  files  at  once  ?  "  asked  the 
Professor. 

"  Do  you  think  it  would  be  safe  ? "  asked  the  Col- 
onel, turning  to  the  Doctor.  "  Would  it  not  be  better 
to  postpone  this  until  later  and  examine  your  patients 
at  once  ?  " 

"  Having  slept  seventy-five  years,"  replied  Kearns, 
"  I  assure  you  we  are  thoroughly  rested  and  quite  up 
to  the  test." 

"  When  I  do  begin  my  examination,"  said  the  Doc- 
tor, "  I  shall  want  to  make  it  a  very  thorough  one. 
I  suspect  I  shall  find  that  animation  has  been  abso- 
lutely suspended  during  this  period  and  that  nature 
will  simply  resume  where  she  left  off — just  as  after 
a  night's  sleep.  If  I  refuse  my  patients'  request  it 
is  likely  to  act  upon  the  nervous  system  and  possibly 
throw  them  into  an  irritated  and  excited  condition. 
I  think  we  might  safely  look  into  the  matter  now, 
provided  they  will  first  partake  of  a  little  light  nour- 
ishment." 

"  Quite  so,"  exclaimed  the  Colonel.  "  They  must 
be  fairly  starved." 


SEARCHING  THE  FILES  60 

Under  Dr.  O'Hanlenne's  directions,  a  light  but 
nutritious  meal  was  promptly  served,  which  the  two 
partook  of  with  relish. 

The  repast  over,  the  Colonel,  followed  by  his 
guests,  led  the  way  across  the  hall  to  the  elevator. 
lie  touched  an  electric  button  and  they  quickly  as- 
cended two  stories.  The  Colonel  then  conducted 
them  down  the  hall  and  into  a  magnificent  library. 
Books  lined  the  four  walls  from  floor  to  ceiling. 

"  We'll  find  what  we  want  here,"  said  the  Colonel, 
crossing  to  one  corner  of  the  library.  "  The  files  for 
that  period  are  bound  in  four  volumes  to  the  year. 
Let  we  see  —  we  want  June,  nineteen  hundred. 
That  will  be  the  second  volume  of  that  year.  Ah, 
here  it  is." 

The  Colonel  picked  out  a  big  volume  and  laid  it  on 
one  of  the  polished  library  tables. 

"  June  the  tenth  is  the  date,  I  believe  ?  "  By  the 
way,"  he  added,  turning  to  Kearns,  "  may  I  ask  the 
names  ? " 

"  My  name  is  Thomas  Kearns  and  I  am,  or  rather 
was " 

"What!"  exclaimed  the  Colonel,  with  a  start, 
"  not  Thomas  Kearns,  the  famous  Director  of  Police, 
the  great  Vidocq  of  that  period,  whose  name  has  fig- 
ured so  often  in  the  sensational  romances  of  the 
writer,  Branderhurst  ?  " 

"  Well,"  replied  Kearns  modestly,  "  I  believe  I 
was  pretty  well-known  in  connection  with  police  mat- 
ters in  my  day,  but  you  do  me  altogether  too  much 
honor.  As  for  Branderhurst :  I'm  sorry,  but  I  never 
heard  of  him  !  " 

"  True,"  said  the  Colonel,  "  he  wrote  after  your 
day.  What  the  French  authors  did  for  Vidocq, 
Branderhurst  has  done  for  you.  You  are  known  to 
our  girls  and  boys,  and  readers  of  sensational  litera- 


70         THE  FIKST  AMERICAN  KING 

ture  generally,  as  a  Fouche  and  a  Vidocq  rolled  into 
one.  In  a  word,  as  the  great  American  Director  of 
Secret  Police."' 

"  They  didn't  quite  style  it  that  way  in  my  day," 
answered  Kearns,  "  but  I  suppose  it's  all  right.  A 
rose  under  any  other  name  would  smell  just  as  sweet ! 
As  for  Branderhurst,  I'm  sure  I'm  obliged  to  him  for 
acting  as  a  gratuitous  post-mortem  press  agent. 
What  can  I  do  to  repay  him,  I  wonder !  " 

"  Not  much,  I  fear,"  replied  the  Colonel,  "  inas- 
much as  poor  Branderhurst,  who  was  really  a  very 
talented  poet  and  novelist,  died  in  delirium  tremens 
nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century  ago." 

"  Ah,  I  see,"  said  Kearns  apologetically ;  "  it  used 
to  be  much  the  same  thing  with  writers  in  the  old 
days." 

"  And  now,"  inquired  the  Colonel,  turning  to  the 
Professor,  "  may  I  ask  your  name  ?  " 

"  Walter  Stuart  Dean,"  answered  the  Professor. 
"  And,"  he  added  with  a  smile,  "  I  fear  I  cannot  lay 
any  claim  to  distinction  such  as  possessed  by  my 
friend  here,  for  in  my  period  I  was  nothing  but  a 
poor  pedagogue  and " 

But  the  Professor  stopped  abruptly,  for  both  the 
Colonel  and  the  Doctor  had  turned  toward  him  with 
faces  flushed  and  eager. 

"  Walter  Stuart  Dean !  "  repeated  the  Doctor. 

"  Walter  Stuart  Dean !  "  echoed  the  Colonel. 
"  Are  you  the  famous  writer  on  political  economy ; 
the  distinguished  inventor  and  scientist  ?  " 

"  Gentlemen,"  urged  the  Professor  deprecatingly, 
"  I  beg  you  not  to  fall  into  any  error.  There  is  some 
mistake  here.  It  is  true  I  wrote  a  work  on  political 
economy,  but  far  from  making  me  famous,  it  cost  me 
my  position  as  one  of  the  Faculty  at  the  Chicago  Uni- 
versity.    As  for  my  investigations  in  science,  what- 


SEARCHING  THE  FILES  71 

ever  might  have  been  the  result,  practically  it  was 
nothing,  since  at  the  critical  moment  I — I  disap- 
peared !  " 

"  Mistake,  eh !  "  cried  the  Colonel,  eagerly  interpos- 
ing; "we  will  see  about  that!"  And  he  hurried 
away  to  another  part  of  the  library,  returning  a  mo- 
ment later  with  a  big  encyclopedia. 

"  What  do  I  find  here  ?  "  he  asked,  consulting  the 
index  and  rapidly  turning  over  the  pages.  "  Ah, 
here  it  is !  '  Walter  Stuart  Dean,  political  economist; 
scientist  and  inventor;  born  at  Springfield,  Illinois, 
1857,  of  poor  but  honest  parents.  Studied  in  the 
public  schools  and  afterward  at  the  University  of 
Bonn,  Germany,  from  which  he  graduated,  1880, 
with  high  honors.  Filled  the  Chair  of  Professor  of 
Sciences  at  the  University  of  Chicago,  1890-1000, 
from  which  he  retired  owing  to  political  persecution. 
Wrote  several  famous  works  on  political  economy  and 
the  economic  conditions  of  the  period ;  also  a  number 
of  notable  scientific  treatises.  His  mysterious  disap- 
pearance in  1900  was  one  of  the  sensations  of  the  day. 
The  date  of  his  death  and  place  of  burial  are  un- 
known.' Now,  sir,  what  do  you  say  to  that  ?  "  ex- 
claimed the  Colonel,  tapping  with  his  index  finger 
upon  the  page  before  him.  "  Do  you  still  think  there 
is  any  mistake  ?  " 

"  Hooray !  "  cried  Kearns  triumphantly,  waving 
his  hand  in  the  air.  "  This  is  indeed  a  case  of  a  man 
waking  up  to  find  himself  famous.  I  congratulate 
you,  Professor." 

"  Let  me  add  my  felicitations,"  said  Dr.  O'Han- 
lenne. 

"And  mine!"  declared  the  Colonel. 

"Thank  you,"  replied  the  Professor,  with  the  air 
of  a  man  somewhat  dazed. 

"And  now,"  exclaimed  the  Colonel,  "  having  sol- 


72  THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

idly  ensconced  you  in  your  respective  niches  of  fame, 
let  us  continue  our  original  line  of  research.  Let  us 
see  if  in  these  newspapers  there  is  any  account  of 
your  mysterious  disappearance." 

"  Quite  so,"  said  Dr.  O'Hanlenne. 

"  June  tenth,"  began  the  Colonel,  turning  the 
paper,  "  no  use  looking  on  that  date.  June  the  elev- 
enth. Ah !  here  we  are.  Phew !  your  disappear- 
ance did  make  a  stir  and  your  papers  of  that  day  un- 
derstood the  art  of  working  up  a  sensation.  See  the 
great  black  headlines :  '  Triple  Tragedy !  Death 
Amid  the  Lightning  and  the  Storm.  Mysterious 
Disappearances  of  a  Famous  New  Yorker  and  his 
Companion.  The  Whole  Countryside  engaged  in 
Organized  Search  for  the  Missing  Ones.'  Well,  well, 
well,  gentlemen !  What  more  could  you  ask  than 
that?" 

All  bent  eagerly  over  the  Colonel's  shoulder  and 
read.  There  was  the  whole  story  set  forth ;  how 
Keams  and  the  Professor  had  been  temporarily  so- 
journing at  Dr.  Belden's  well-known  Sanatorium; 
how  in  the  early  afternoon  of  June  tenth  they  had 
started  out  in  company  with  Dr.  Jaquet;  their  failure 
to  return ;  the  search  which  had  followed  and  the 
finding  of  the  dead  body  of  Dr.  Jaquet  by  the  way- 
side, under  the  great  oak,  blasted  and  riven  by  the 
lightning  stroke.  The  article  went  on  to  describe 
how  all  search  for  the  Doctor's  companions  had  so  far 
proved  utterly  without  result.  Then  followed  bio- 
graphical sketches  of  the  missing  men. 

They  turned  over  the  files  and  saw  how  day  after 
day  the  papers  had  kept  up  the  sensation ;  how  re- 
wards were  offered  by  the  many  friends  of  Thomas 
Keams  for  any  information  as  to  his  whereabouts, 
living  or  dead.  Then  came  the  news  of  a  monster 
subscription  for  the  purpose  of  thoroughly  dragging 


SEARCHING  THE  FILES  ?3 

the  rivers  and  otherwise  continuing  the  search.  Next 
came  theories  as  to  the  causes  of  the  disappearance. 
Had  they  become  deranged  and  wandered  away  ? 
This  theory  was  discussed  at  length,  but  it  hardly 
seemed  tenable  that  two  men  should  have  simultane- 
ously become  mentally  afflicted.  Another  theory  was 
advanced  that  Kearns  and  his  companion  had  been 
made  away  with  by  an  organized  band  of  malefactors, 
who  either  sought  revenge  upon  Kearns  or  feared  cer- 
tain discoveries  he  might  have  made.  Thus  the  news 
of  the  search  and  the  various  theories  advanced  kept 
up  edition  after  edition,  until  the  articles  grew 
shorter  and  shorter  and  at  last  stopped  altogether. 
The  nine  days'  wonder  had  ceased  longer  to  be  a  won- 
der ;  the  mystery  had  passed  into  the  long  list  of  un- 
solved tragedies  with  which  the  past  teems. 

''What  a  queer  thing  it  is,"  commented  Kearns 
with  a  laugh,  glancing  over  his  biography,  "  that  a 
man  has  to  be  dead  before  the  world  finds  out  how 
good  and  great  he  was." 

"  I  think  you  will  find  that  has  been  the  case  in  all 
generations,"  replied  the  Colonel. 

"  And  poor  Dr.  Jaquet !  "  remarked  the  Professor. 
"  To  think  that  he  should  have  come  to  his  end  so 
tragically  and  so  suddenly  after  leaving  us !  " 

"  Yes,"  answered  Kearns  moodily ;  "  our  setting 
out  that  June  day  would  seem  to  have  been  an  unfor- 
tunate event  for  all  three  of  us !  " 

"  Come,  cheer  up!  "  retorted  the  Colonel;  "  thank 
your  lucky  stars  you  are  still  alive  and  living  in  a 
world  which  I  think  you  will  find  materially  im- 
proved in  many  respects  as  compared  to  that  of  your 
time." 

"  Indeed !  "  exclaimed  Kearns  doubtfully,  "  tell  us 
then,  of  this  new  world  of  yours." 

"  Not  now,"  answered  the  Colonel ;  "  your  strength 


74         THE  FIEST  AMERICAN  KING 

and  nerves  have  already  been  sufficiently  tried.  For 
the  moment,  I  insist  upon  turning  you  over  to  the 
Doctor." 


CHAPTER  V, 

THE  STORY  OF  THE  PAST 

"  You  ancient  coxcomb !  "  exclaimed  Kearns  next 
morning,  as  he  watched  the  Professor  struggling  with 
the  intricacies  of  a  new-fangled  necktie,  "  to  think 
of  a  man  more  than  one  hundred  years  old  giving 
himself  up  to  the  vanities  of  life !  " 

"  You,  too,  O  venerable  centenarian,  seem  to  have 
given  some  attention  in  the  same  direction,"  retorted 
the  Professor.  "  I  must  confess,  though,  that  those 
knee-breeches  and  hose  are  very  becoming  to  you,  con- 
sidering your  advanced  age !  " 

"  You  think  so  ?  "  replied  Kearns.  "  I  must  say 
that  the  clothes  of  this  period  are  certainly  more  pic- 
turesque and  quite  as  comfortable  as  those  of  our 
day." 

As  he  spoke,  he  turned  his  eyes  in  the  direction  of 
an  assortment  of  clothing  which  their  host  had  sent 
up  for  their  use.  The  styles  had  assuredly  under- 
gone a  change  from  the  long  trousers  and  somber-hued 
clothes  to  which  Kearns  and  the  Professor  had  been 
accustomed.  Knee-breeches  and  hose  replaced  the 
long  trousers  and  the  waistcoats  were  in  lively  pat- 
terns. 

They  had  been  conducted  the  night  before  to  two 
comfortable  adjoining  rooms  and  after  being  carefully 
examined  by  Dr.  O'Hanlenne,  had  partaken  of  a  sec- 
ond light  repast,  succeeded  by  a  sound  night's  rest. 
This  morning  the  Doctor  had  again  visited  them  be- 

75 


T6         THE  FIKST  AMERICAN  KING 

fore  they  were  up  and,  after  careful  examination, 
ha<l  pronounced  their  condition  sound,  leaving 
them  with  assurances  that  they  could  safely  resume 
the  ordinary  occupations  of  life.  Then  came  a  ser- 
vant with  an  invitation  from  their  host  to  join  him  at 
breakfast. 

An  hour  later,  at  his  guests'  urgent  request,  the 
Colonel  conducted  them  to  the  library  there  to  impart 
to  them  information  regarding  the  changed  order  of 
things.  Having  seated  them  in  comfortable  arm- 
chairs, the  Colonel  produced  a  box  of  cigars. 

"  You  smoke  ?  "  he  inquired. 

Both  assented. 

"  Well,"  laughed  the  Colonel,  as  he  passed  the 
box,  '"  that's  at  least  one  custom  which  you  will  find 
has  not  changed." 

The  Colonel  lighted  his  cigar  and  settled  back  in 
his  chair,  preparatory  to  opening  his  narrative. 

"  As  you  have  already  learned,"  he  began,  "this 
land  in  which  we  live  is  no  longer  the  Republic  of  the 
United  States  of  America.  All  that  is  changed.  We 
live  to-day  in  the  Empire  of  the  United  States  under 
the  beneficent  rule  of  His  Majesty,  Imperial  and 
Royal,  William  the  First,  Emperor  of  the  United 
States,  King  of  the  Empire  State  of  New  York, 
Grand  Duke  of  Mexico  and  Costa  Rica,  Sovereign 
Lord  of  Cuba  and  the  Philippines,  Mikado  of  the 
Province  of  Ling-Toa,  Nihor  of  Benaria.  The  states 
composing  the  old  Republic  of  the  United  States 
have  been  consolidated  into  thirty  states,  each  of 
which  is  governed  by  a  Viceroy,  excepting  the  Em- 
pire State  of  New  York,  of  which  the  Emperor  is 
King.  Thus  in  national  matters  we  refer  to  the 
Emperor,  but  in  state  matters  to  the  King." 

"  An  Empire  and  an  Emperor!  "  gasped  the  Pro- 
fessor.    "  The  Republic  gone !  " 


THE  STORY  OF  THE  PAST  17 

"  Who  would  ever  have  believed  it !  "  cried  Keariw. 

"  To  our  modern  thinkers  and  writers,"  said  the 
Colonel  calmly,  "  the  one  great,  inexplicable  thing  is 
that  the  people  of  the  beginning  of  this  century — the 
people  of  your  time — did  not  plainly  foresee  just 
what  has  happened.  As  our  leading  historian,  Gold- 
stream,  points  out,  all  the  history  of  the  past,  all  the 
indications  of  the  times,  pointed  clearly  to  this  cul- 
mination. And  I  agree  with  Goldstream  that  it 
would  really  seem  that  it  did  not  require  a  prophet, 
or  the  son  of  a  prophet,  to  foreshadow  what  actually 
happened." 

"  I  am  deeply  interested,"  said  the  Professor,  "  yet 
I  do  not  quite  follow  your  line  of  reasoning.  Will 
you  particularize  a  little  more  fully,  please  ? " 

"  With  pleasure,"  answered  the  Colonel.  "  As  I 
have  just  remarked,  Goldstream  draws  attention  to 
the  fact  that  the  history  of  the  past  all  pointed  to  the 
Empire.  By  this  he  refers  to  the  history  of  all  the 
old-time  republics.  What  has  that  history  been? 
First,  a  republic,  and  honest,  sturdy  simplicity ;  next, 
a  growth  of  wealth,  followed  by  a  constantly  increas- 
ing luxury.  And  what  was  the  outcome  of  these  con- 
ditions in  all  these  republics  ?  Class  distinction, 
founded  upon  a  plutocratic  basis ;  and  official  and  in- 
dustrial corruption  born  of  the  wild  scramble  after 
wealth  and  its  ostentatious  fooleries.  These  condi- 
tions have  ever  proved  the  soil  from  which  a  ruling 
class  has  sprung,  followed  by  a  monarchy  and  an  aris- 
tocracy. Eead  the  ancient  histories,  and  there  you 
find  it  recorded  again  and  again." 

"  That  is  quite  true  in  many  respects,"  said  the 
Professor ;  "  but  what  signs  do  you  discover  in  our 
times  which  foreshadowed  the  passing  the  Republic 
and  the  installing  of  the  monarchical  institution  ?  " 

"  The    very    first   signs,"  answered   the    Colonel, 


78         THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

"  are  to  be  traced  to  the  close  of  the  nineteenth  cen- 
tury. As  can  be  gleaned  from  the  literature  of  that 
period,  sons  of  the  rich  men  were  beginning  to  ape 
the  dress,  the  manners  and  the  modes  of  speech  of  the 
gilded  youth  of  England.  A  wave  of  what  was  then 
called  Anglomania  swept  over  the  country.  If  a  for- 
eign nobleman,  even  a  poverty-stricken  German  baron, 
or  a  beggarly  Italian  count,  came  into  the  country,  he 
was  feted,  entertained  and  run  after  by  your  Society 
and  toadied  to  in  a  manner  of  which  the  smallest  Lon- 
don shopkeeper,  or  the  humblest  bourgeois  of  the 
Paris  faubourgs  would  have  been  ashamed.  If  an 
adventurer  of  that  period  called  himself  my  Lord 
This  or  Sir  Henry  That,  people  straightway  lost 
their  heads  and  their  money.  I  ask  you  if  this  has, 
or  has  not,  been  correctly  reported  \  " 

Kearns  laughed.  "  What  memories  your  words 
bring  to  me !  "  he  said.  "  I  could  tell  you  of  some 
extraordinary  cases.    But  don't  let  me  interrupt." 

"  The  beginning  of  this  century,"  continued  the 
Colonel,  "  found  your  Republic  of  the  United  States 
growing  rapidly  in  wealth,  in  luxury,  and  in  class 
distinctions.  The  literature  of  the  times  punts 
clearly  to  the  existence  of  a  class  which  considered 
itself  superior  to  the  ordinary  citizen.  Some  of  the 
writers  of  the  period  seem  to  have  placed  the  numbers 
of  this  class  at  four  hundred,  but  this  originally  lim- 
ited number  must  certainly  have  largely  increased 
later  on,  as  new  fortunes  were  made  and  new  million- 
aires sprang  into  existence." 

"  The  Four  Hundred !  "  exclaimed  Kearns. 
"  Why,  that  was  originally  regarded  as  a  species  of 
joke  sprung  by  one  Ward  McAllister." 

"  It  evidently  turned  out  a  pretty  grim  joke  for 
the  Republic !  "  retorted  the  Professor  dryly. 

"  All  these  things  were  straws  clearly  indicating 


THE  STORY  OF  THE  PAST  79 

the  direction  to  which  the  wind  was  veering"  re- 
sumed  the   Colonel.     "A   large   percentage   of  the 
members  of  this  class,  denominated  even  in  the  days 
of  the  Republic  as  'High  Society/  lived  in  Europl 
where  they  could  bask  in  the  sunshine  of  aristocracy 
and  at  times  even  creep  within  the  shadow  of  a  throne 
Ihe  one  dream  of  the  members  possessed  of  marriage- 
able daughters  in  this  '  High  Society  '  was  to  marry 
oft   such    daughters   to    European    aristocrats.     The 
multi-millionaires  of  the  period  aspired  to  a  match 
with  an  English  Duke  or  Earl ;  those  of  lesser  millions 
were  compelled  to  put  up  with  a  French  Count,  or  a 
German  Baron.     No  woman  was  too  beautiful,  no 
dot  too  great,  provided  a  title  were  involved.     No 
personality  was  too  repulsive,  no  reputation  or  charac- 
ter too  vile,  provided  they  were  gilded  over  by  a  pat- 
ent of  nobility.     Do  the  chronicles  that  tell  of  these 
things  he,  or  do  they  record  the  truth  ?  " 

||  The  frozen  truth !  "  answered  Kearns  curtly. 
"  Then  how  can  you  say,"  cried  the  Colonel  tri- 
umphantly, "  that  the  coming  events  did  not  cast  their 
shadows  before  ?  What  meant  these  things  if  not  an 
aching  and  a  longing  for  aristocracy  ?  And  you  can't 
very  well  have  an  aristocracy  without  a  monarchy ! 
It  is  the  most  natural  sequence  of  events  in  the 
world,"  continued  the  Colonel  argumentativelv ; 
1  first  wealth,  next  luxury,  then  a  desire  to  be  distin- 
guished above  the  common  herd.  After  all  the  physi- 
cal appetites  are  satisfied  comes  the  craving  for  hon- 
ors and  distinction,  for  decorations  and  titles!  " 

f  "But,"  interposed  the  Professor  with  a  bewilderr-d 
air,  how  came  the  People— the  masses  of  the  People 
— to  ever  submit  to  these  changes  2  " 

"  Tut !  Tut !  The  Peopled  "  'exclaimed  the  Col- 
onel contemptuously.  "  How  much  had  thev  to  say 
m  the  matter!     The  power  of  the  People  is  one  of 


80         THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

those  cant  phrases,  founded  on  a  popular  delusion, 
which  have  always  existed.  In  theory,  the  power  of 
the  People  is  supreme;  in  reality,  a  myth.  Take  it 
during  the  past  two  thousand  years.  In  all  these 
centuries  the  great  masses  of  the  people  have  been 
poor,  hardworking ;  their  lives  replete  with  stint  and 
suffering.  The  Few  have  been  rich,  pampered,  over- 
indulged and  contented.  Do  you  think  the  masses  of 
the  People  were  really  satisfied  with  this  order  of 
things  ?  Do  you  not  believe  that  they,  both  as  indi- 
viduals and  as  a  mass,  would  infinitely  have  preferred 
a  more  even  distribution  of  the  good  things  of  this 
world  ?  At  any  time  and  in  any  country,  these 
masses,  had  they  been  organized  and  united  in  pur- 
pose, could  in  a  day  have  changed  the  conditions  and 
brought  about  this  coveted  distribution.  But  they 
never  have  been  so  organized  and  united,  and  the  spe- 
cial class  has  ever  governed  the  masses.  True,  there 
were  your  labor  unions  and  your  great  strikes.  Con- 
tractors and  employers,  great  and  small,  were  bullied 
and  at  times  even  beaten  in  the  various  struggles 
which  ensued,  but  this  really  amounted  to  nothing. 
Whenever  the  People  really  began  to  grow  dangerous 
and  to  threaten  the  existing  order  of  things,  the  sol- 
diers came  forth — soldiers,  mark  you,  drawn  from 
the  masses — and  the  trouble  was  promptly  put  an 
end  to." 

"  But  how  about  the  popular  vote  ?  "  inquired  the 
Professor. 

"  The  popular  vote,"  echoed  the  Colonel  with  a 
sneer.  "  Another  delusion !  One  set  of  professional 
politicians  set  up  a  platform  against  another  platform 
devised  by  another  set  of  professional  politicians  and 
both  invite  the  popular  vote.  The  good  people  would 
vote  for  the  one,  or  for  the  other ;  but  how  much  was 
the  popular  interest,  or  the  popular  will,  really  repre- 


THE  STORY  OF  THE  PAST  81 

sented  by  either  %  It  is  true  that  from  time  to  time 
reformers  sprang  up  aud  sought  to  create  new  parties 
and  new  issues  more  closely  representative  of  the  pop- 
ular weal  and  the  popular  will.  How  much  headway 
did  they  make  ?  Defeat  by  the  trained  political  or- 
ganizations, commanding  ample  means  and  patron- 
age, was  invariably  the  ultimate  fate  of  any  such  ef- 
forts. The  really  able  man  preferred  to  accept  the 
existing  conditions  and  make  the  best  of  them.  He 
realized  the  futility  of  such  undertakings  and  under- 
stood that  the  role  of  Reformer  and  the  role  of  Martyr 
were  only  too  closely  allied." 

"  But  in  a  supreme  question,"  objected  the  Profes- 
sor, "  such  as  the  overthrow  of  the  Republic,  I  should 
have  thought  that  a  naturally  free,  assertive  people, 
such  as  the  people  of  the  United  States,  would  have 
made  their  power  felt." 

"  Another  popular  fallacy !  "  laughed  the  Colonel. 
"  The  people  of  the  United  States  are  a  brave  people 
— valorous  in  war;  pushing,  clever,  enterprising  in 
times  of  peace.  They  exalt  national  heroes  to  the 
skies  one  day,  only  to  pull  them  down  the  next.  They 
are  super-sensitive  to  adverse  criticism  and  delight  in 
being  told  they  are  the  greatest  and  best  of  the  earth. 
These  are  among  their  many  little  peculiarities,  but  to 
describe  them  as  a  people  strongly  assertive  of  their 
rights  is  to  describe  wrongly." 

"  I  can't  agree  with  you,"  said  the  Professor 
bluntly. 

"  Look  back  fairly  and  impartially,"  answered  the 
Colonel  gently,  "  and  I  think  you  will  find  my  words 
borne  out.  Take  ]STew  York — your  own  city  and  in 
your  own  times.  Was  ever  in  any  land,  or  at  any 
period,  such  arbitrary  disregard  of  the  People's 
rights  submitted  to  with  practically  not  a  murmur  of 
dissent  ?     Do  you  question  this  ?  " 


32  THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

"  I  will  leave  it  to  you  to  make  out  your  own  case," 
retorted  the  Professor. 

"  Make  out  my  case,"  returned  the  Colonel  with 
warmth;  "very  well,  then!  Is  it  or  is  it  not  true 
that  valuable  franchises  belonging  to  the  People  were 
acquired  by  trick  and  device  far  below  their  actual 
value  ?  Is  it  or  is  it  not  true  that  official  corruption 
was  openly  and  notoriously  rampant  on  every  side; 
that  judges  sat  upon  the  bench  because  they  were  the 
political  creatures  of  a  political  boss;  nominated  and 
elected,  not  because  of  their  integrity,  or  knowledge 
of  the  Law,  but  at  the  behest  of  a  party  leader  ?  The 
same  conditions  prevailed  amongst  the  prosecuting 
officers,  so  that  Justice  itself  was  sullied  at  her  very 
fountain  head.  Your  police  force  was  nothing  more 
nor  less  than  an  organized  banditti,  clothed  with  the 
uniform  of  law  and  order  and  paid  by  the  People; 
but  dispensing  oppression  and  levying  blackmail  right 
and  left.  Am  I  citing  individual  cases,  or  acts  done 
occasionally  and  in  secrecy  ?  Indeed  not !  The 
chronicles  of  your  time  recite  that  all  this  was  a  mat- 
ter of  daily  occurrence  and  common  notoriety — that 
the  very  children  making  mud  pies  in  your  gutters 
knew  of  it.  Then,  too,  the  pages  of  municipal  his- 
tory are  seared  with  the  shameful  record  of  an  execu- 
tive officer  who,  with  others,  manipulated  a  corner  in 
a  certain  product  necessary  to  the  rich  and  poor. 
The  chronicles  record  how  the  conspirators  control- 
ling the  corner  forced  up  the  price  at  a  time  when  the 
product  was  most  needed  to  relieve  suffering.  The 
price  was  prohibitive  to  the  poor.  And  the  women 
and  the  little  children  in  your  teeming  tenements  laid 
down  their  lives  —  hundreds  upon  hundreds  of  them. 
But  the  corner  was  piling  up  money  for  your  officer 
and  his  associates,  and  they  heeded  not  the  cries  of 
death  and  despair.     The  papers  of  the  time  were  re- 


THE  STORY  OF  THE  PAST  83 

plete  with  itemized  accounts  of  the  suffering,  but 
none  raised  a  hand  to  stop  the  iniquity.  Is  this  true, 
or  does  history  lie  ?  " 

"  But  the  People,"  exclaimed  the  Professor,  "  were 
not  responsible  —  they  did  not  approve " 

"  Approve !  "  cried  the  Colonel  explosively;  "much 
credit  to  them  for  that !  Do  you  think  the  People  of 
England,  or  of  France,  would  have  thus  tamely  sub- 
mitted \  Even  in  darkest  Russia,  do  you  not  think 
there  would  have  been  a  few  signs  of  lack  of  approval 
in  the  shape  of  bombs?  Was  there  a  violent  ebul- 
lition of  popular  wrath?  Was  there  an  outbreak 
such  as  might  have  recalled  the  French  Revolution  of 
1789  ?  No ;  your  free  and  assertive  citizens  tamely 
submitted.  The  corporations  kept  their  franchises; 
the  men  of  the  soiled  ermine  retained  their  positions 
on  the  bench ;  the  police  force,  despite  investigations 
and  exposures,  continued,  haughty  and  arrogant,  to 
ply  its  nefarious  traffic;  and  it  is  recorded  that  the 
officer  to  whom  I  have  referred  was  allowed  to  quietly 
and  profitably  serve  out  his  term.  Do  I  state  facts, 
or  fiction  ?  " 

"  You  are  stating  only  the  truth,"  said  Kearns 
sturdily. 

"  And  the  franchises  which  were  robbed  from  the 
People !  "  cried  the  colonel.  "  What  was  done  with 
them?  ISTot  content  with  securing  these  valuable 
franchises  infinitely  below  their  actual  worth,  the 
holders  proceeded  to  form  corporations  whose  stock 
was  watered  to  an  absurd  extent.  Upon  this  watered 
stock  dividends  had  to  be  earned.  And  how  were 
these  dividends  earned  —  by  the  transportation 
companies  of  the  great  cities,  for  instance  ?  By 
treating  the  people  —  to  whom  these  companies  owed 
their  corporate  existence  —  like  dogs,  and  trans- 
porting them  as  they  would  not  have  dared  to  trans- 


84         THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

port  cattle.  Men,  women  and  children  were  herded 
in  the  street  cars  of  your  day  as  animals  were  never 
herded.  Thus  year  in  and  year  out  were  the  great 
and  supposedly  all-powerful  People  treated.  And 
for  what  ?  All  for  the  benefit  of  a  comparatively 
tiny  coterie  of  men,  who  derived  the  profit.  And 
the  People  submitted  tamely  as  any  band  of  sheep, 
did  they  not  ?     The  power  of  the  peopla,  indeed !  " 

"  Come,  Colonel !  "  exclaimed  the  Professor ;  "  it 
seems  to  me  that  you  are  somewhat  intolerant  of  the 
shortcomings  of  the  people  of  our  day." 

u  Pardon  me,"  replied  the  Colonel  hastily,  "  if 
I  have  said  anything  to  offend,  though  I  have  only 
recited  a  few  facts  as  taken  from  the  chroniclers  of 
your  own  times.  Of  course,  we  have  our  faults 
and  our  evils;  but  not  such  as  these.  Thank  God, 
such  things  could  not  be  under  the  Empire !  Thank 
God,  such  would  not  be  tolerated  under  the  benefi- 
cent- rule  of  His  Majesty,  the  King!  Long  live 
th«  Empire !     God  save  the  King !  " 


CHAPTER  VI 

THE  STAR  OF  EMPIRE 

"  You  would  doubtless  prefer  to  hear  how  the  great 
changes  which  have  taken  place  were  brought  about 
and  learn  of  the  events  which  led  up  to  them,"  con- 
tinued the  Colonel.  "  For  this  we  must  go  back  to 
the  beginning  of  the  century  and  the  days  when  the 
various  great  Trusts  began  to  grow  into  maturity 
and  strength.  Just  prior  to  the  beginning  of  the  cen- 
tury had  come  the  formation  of  the  gigantic  financial 
organizations  known  as  the  Trusts.  That  is  to  say, 
they  were  regarded  as  gigantic  in  that  day,  though 
as  a  matter  of  fact  they  had  not  yet  assumed  the 
really  colossal  proportions  they  later  attained.  They 
were  then  in  their  infancy,  so  to  speak." 

"  I  can  recall,"  remarked  Kearns,  "  a  little  billion- 
dollar  concern.  Surely  that  was  a  pretty  solid, 
bouncing  infant !  " 

"  A  beggarly,  puny  infant  ?  "  retorted  the  Colonel, 
"  as  compared  to  those  born  later.  The  Trusts  grew 
until  business  upon  anything  but  a  colossal  scale  was 
an  impossibility  and  the  smaller  manufacturer  and 
the  middleman  were  wiped  out.  In  the  course  of 
time,  by  a  brilliant  series  of  consolidations,  seven 
great  Trusts  were  formed  which  practically  absorbed 
the  business  of  the  country.  The  fields  covered  by 
these  Trusts  were  respectively:  Alimentation, 
Transportation,  Manufacturing,  Land,  Ores  and  Min- 
erals, Retailing,  and  finally,  the  great  Miscellaneous 

85 


86  THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

Trust  which  took  in  pretty  well  everything  not  em- 
braced by  the  others.  These  main  Trusts  subdivided 
their  respective  fields  between  numerous  subsidiary 
Trusts ;  but  these  subsidiary  Trusts  all  operated  sub- 
ject to  the  direction  of  the  general  head  of  that  par- 
ticular Trust.  The  methods  adopted  by  these  organi- 
zations involved  the  ruthless  crushing  out  of  all  out- 
side competition.  For  instance,  the  Retailing 
Trust  would  start  in  by  founding  baker  shops  all 
over  a  given  city,  and  would  sell  bread  at  the  actual 
cost  of  production.  With  the  enormous  resources 
at  the  disposal  of  the  Trust,  this  plan  of  operations 
could  be  kept  up  indefinitely.  What  was  the  re- 
sult ?  All  rivals  were  forced  either  to  sell  out  to  the 
Trust,  or  go  to  the  wall.  Similar  methods  of  pro- 
cedure were  adopted  in  other  branches  of  retail  in- 
dustry, one  after  the  other,  until  the  cream  of  the 
retail  trade  in  all  the  great  cities  was  practically  in 
the  hands  of  the  Trust.  It  was  a  case  of  steady  ab- 
sorption. To  oppose  the  Trust  meant  ruin  and  this 
speedily  came  to  be  very  thoroughly  understood. 
Another  example  is  the  Alimentation  Trust,  which 
deals  with  the  foodstuffs,  both  solid  and  liquid,  of 
the  country.  With  its  enormous  resources,  it  was 
enabled  to  corner  the  raw  material  in  one  product 
after  another  until  all  competition  was  forced  out  of 
existence." 

"  And  what  did  the  People  say  to  all  this  ?  "  in- 
quired Dean. 

"  They  fussed  and  fumed  a  good  deal,"  answered 
the  Colonel,  "but  they  submitted  —  just  as  they 
submitted  in  your  day  to  the  cornering  Chief  Magis- 
trate, the  corrupt  judges,  the  official  rascality,  and 
the  oppressions  of  the  transportation  companies.  At 
first,  inspired  by  the  fulminations  of  certain  news- 
papers, organs  of  the  populace,  they  assumed  a  rather 


THE  STAR  OF  EMPIRE  87 

threatening  attitude ;  but  this  soon  died  out.  The 
great  Miscellaneous  Trust  founded  newspapers,  cov- 
ering immense  fields  of  news.  The  highest  talent  in 
the  land  was  employed.  The  papers  were  delivered 
free  of  charge  throughout  the  city  and  surrounding 
country.  Money  was  no  object.  The  dry-goods 
business,  the  soap  industry  and  the  patent-medicine 
output  being  all  controlled  by  the  Trusts,  the  field  of 
general  advertising  was  well  in  their  hands.  Conse- 
quently the  independent  newspapers  were  either  sold 
out  to  and  absorbed  by  the  Trust  organs,  or  perished 
from  lack  of  advertising  patronage." 

"  I'll  bet  they  said  some  tart  things  before  they 
expired,"  exclaimed  Kearns. 

"  Frantic  were  their  death  shrieks !  "  replied  the 
Colonel.  "  However,  as  these  disturbing  factors 
gradually  disappeared,  the  people  became  more  calm 
and  more  accustomed  to  the  existing  state  of  things. 
They  began  to  perceive  that  the  Trusts  were,  after 
all,  not  an  unmixed  evil.  While  the  Trusts  made 
enormous  profits,  yet  the  cost  to  the  consumer,  owing 
to  the  reduction  in  the  expenses  of  handling  and  pro- 
duction, was  materially  reduced.  The  merchants 
and  manufacturers,  the  middlemen  and  retailers  who 
had  been  crowded  out  of  business  found  positions 
with  the  different  Trusts,  where  they  worked  less 
hard  and  had  more  freedom  from  financial  cares  than 
they  had  known  when  they  were  in  business  for  them- 
selves. And  the  Trusts  were  very  shrewd.  While 
the  bulk  of  their  enormous  capital  stock  was  con- 
trolled by  certain  individuals,  yet  a  quantity  of  the 
stock  was  put  out  among  the  masses  of  the  people, 
whose  interest,  in  this  way  became  bound  up  with  the 
Trusts.  Besides  this,  each  of  the  Trusts,  of  course, 
employed  vast  armies  of  people.  These  employees, 
after  attaining  a   certain  age,   were   pensioned  and 


88  THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

their  lives  insured,  in  consideration  of  payments  de 
ducted  from  the  weekly,  or  monthly,  wage.  This 
created  a  vast  host  of  people  throughout  the  land 
whose  financial  interests,  or  whose  entire  future  pros- 
pects, were  identified  with  the  Trusts.  Now,  self- 
interest  is  a  very  powerful  incentive  and  these  very 
people  were  among  the  firmest  supporters  of  the 
Trusts.  In  the  meantime,  the  United  States  was 
rapidly  taking  its  position  as  the  foremost  commer- 
cial, manufacturing  and  exporting  country  in  the 
world,  and  this  expansion  of  trade  kept  times  good 
and  things  prosperous  generally.  Do  you  follow 
me  I  " 

"  To  quite  an  extent,"  answered  Kearns. 

"  There  are  many  questions  I  wish  to  ask,"  said 
the  Professor,  "  but  I  prefer  to  reserve  them  until 
later  and  not  interrupt  your  narrative." 

"  Very  well,"  continued  the  Colonel.  "  We  now 
come  to  the  year  1963  —  the  time  of  the  outbreak 
of  the  great  battle  of  the  Trusts.  At  that  period, 
William  Rockingham,  the  richest  man  in  the  world 
and  the  head  of  the  great  Miscellaneous  Trust,  was 
President  of  the  United  States.  He  was  the  last  to 
fill  that  office.  For  a  number  of  years  there  had  been 
discord  between  the  Directorates  of  certain  of  the 
seven  great  Trusts,  growing  out  of  charges  and 
counter  charges  of  one  infringing  upon  the  fields 
of  the  other.  The  discord  developed  into  war.  It 
was  a  war  of  billions.  For  a  long  time  the  strife 
raged,  but  at  last  it  became  plain  with  whom  victory 
would  rest.  The  defeated  ones,  men  of  resources  and 
of  influence,  in  the  bitterness  of  defeat,  brought 
charges  against  the  President  and  sought  to  impeach 
him.  It  was  charged  that  he  had  used  his  official 
position  as  President  to  secure  the  victory  to  the 
Miscellaneous  Trust,  of  which  he  was  the  head,  and 


THE  STAR  OF  EMPIRE  89 

its  allies.    A  bitter  political  fight  ensued,  followed  by 
an  armed  uprising." 

"  The  term  of  the  President,"  continued  the  Col- 
onel, "  was  drawing  to  a  close  and  preparations  being 
made  for  the  usual  presidential  nominations.     The 
heads  of  the  great  Trusts,  flushed  by  their  recent  suc- 
cess, got  together  and  the  cry  went  up  that  the  con- 
stantly recurring  elections  were  a  cause  of  commer- 
cial disturbance  and  that  a  frequently  changing  oc- 
cupant of  the   presidential  chair   was   a  source   of 
national  insecurity  and  of  weakness  in  the  country's 
foreign  relations.     The  politicians  were  set  to  work 
and  a  constitutional  amendment  proposed,  in  accord- 
ance with  which  the  President  was  to  be  elected  for 
life  and  Congress  was  authorized  to  institute  such 
other  changes  in  the  national  form  of  government  as 
might  be  deemed  necessary  for  the  public  welfare 
and  safety.     William  Rockingham  received  the  nom- 
ination from  the  party  which  advocated  these  consti- 
tutional changes.      I  will  not  analyze  how  it  came  to 
pass.      The  election  which  ensued  was  a  complete 
triumph   for   him.      The   constitutional   amendment 
was   sanctioned  by  the   popular  vote   and  William 
Rockingham  found  himself  elected  President  for  life, 
with  a  Congress,  under  the  leadership  of  the  great 
Marquanna,  obedient  to  his  lightest  word." 
'  The  opening  wedge !  "  commented  Dean. 
"  There  were  charges  advanced  in  connection  with 
this  election,"  resumed  the  Colonel,   "  and  the  up- 
rising  I   have  mentioned  became  more   formidable 
than  ever.^    Rumors  began  to  be  circulated  broadcast 
that  certain  classes  were  paving  the  way  to  a  mon- 
archy.   With  a  permanent  President  and  a  Congress 
obedient  to  his  every  behest,  the  country  might  as 
well,  the  cry  went  up,  have  a  King  at  once." 

"•I  begin  to  see  the  trend  of  events,"  murmured 
Dean. 


90  THE  FIKST  AMERICAN  KING 

"  A  King  at  once !  And  why  not  I  "  continued  the 
Colonel.  "  The  country  was  certainly  ripe  for  it.  The 
successful  Trust  controllers  favored  it  and  behind 
them,  as  I  have  shown,  were  armies  of  people  whose 
entire  interests  were  bound  up  in  the  Trusts  and 
who,  consequently,  favored  whatever  the  Trusts  de- 
sired. The  officers  of  the  Army  and  of  the  Navy 
favored  it.  Class  distinction  had  ever  flourished  in 
their  ranks  and  a  monarchy  would  mean  that  crosses 
and  decorations  and  all  the  brilliancy  and  advant;;i:< « 
of  a  court,  as  enjoyed  by  military  and  naval  officers 
in  Europe,  would  be  theirs.  Society,  of  course,  was 
in  favor  of  it  to  a  unit  and  to  the  great  majority  of 
the  women  throughout  the  land  the  proposition 
seemed  to  come  as  a  not  displeasing  novelty.  In  «a 
word,  while  there  was  bitter  opposition  to  the  idea 
in  many  quarters,  yet  it  did  not  want  for  enthusiastic 
supporters  in  countless  directions.  As  for  Mar- 
quanna,  the  great  political  chieftain,  he  boldly  came 
out  with  the  declaration  that  the  feature  of  a  con- 
stantly changing  President  had  become  intolerable 
and  that  the  country's  urgent  need  was  greater  sta- 
bility and  permanence  in  its  executive  head.  He  was 
not  prepared  to  say  whether  the  mere  election  of  the 
President  for  life  would  sufficiently  satisfy  the  coun- 
try's demands  in  this  respect." 

"  A  bold  leader !  He  had  at  least  courage,  if 
nothing  else !  "  remarked  Dean. 

"  Owing  to  the  condition  of  unrest  in  various  parts 
of  the  country,"  continued  the  Colonel,  "  martial 
law  was  proclaimed  and  the  regular  army  was 
brought  into  active  play.  In  the  midst  of  the  gen- 
eral turmoil  and  confusion,  Congress,  under  the  lead- 
ership of  Marquanna,  decided  to  take  advantage  of 
the  recent  constitutional  amendment  which  provided 
that  such  other  and  further  action  might  be  taken 


THE  STAR  OF  EMPIRE  91 

in  modifying  the  form  of  national  government  as 
for  the  welfare  and  safety  of  the  people  might  be 
deemed  necessary.  Boldly  the  resolution  was  sprung 
providing  that  the  existing  Republic  be  transformed 
into  a  hereditary  monarchy,  with  the  life  President 
as  the  Sovereign.  By  a  substantial  majority  this  was 
carried.  A  cabinet  was  quickly  formed ;  the  boun- 
daries of  the  various  states  were  rearranged  and  the 
number  of  states  reduced  by  consolidation  to  thirty, 
with  a  Viceroy  governing  each ;  New  York  state 
was  declared  the  premier  state,  with  the  Ruler  of  the 
Empire  as  its  hereditary  King,  and  the  seat  of  gov- 
ernment was  transferred  from  Washington  to  New 
York;  Marquanna  was  created  Duke  of  Marquanna, 
taking  his  title  from  the  beautiful  country  seat  which 
bears  his  family  name,  and  was  also  made  Chancel- 
lor of  the  Empire ;  crosses  and  orders  were  distrib- 
uted among  the  officers  of  the  Army  and  the  Navy, 
and  the  great  men  of  the  country  were  ennobled  ac- 
cording to  their  respective  degrees  of  prominence 
and  influence.  Within  sixty  days  the  uprisings  were 
successfully  crushed  out  by  the  army  and  the  leaders 
and  instigators  tried  on  charges  of  High  Treason 
and  executed,  or  imprisoned.  Then  sprang  into  ex- 
istence the  most  brilliant  and  luxurious  Court  the 
world  had  yet  known.  With  imposing  ceremonies 
the  first  American  monarch  was  crowned,  amid  the 
applauding  tributes  of  the  Kings  and  peoples  of 
monarchical  Europe." 

"  And  this  is  the  —  the  —  King  who  now  rules  ?  " 
asked  Dean. 

"  Yes,"  replied  the  Colonel.  "  His  Majesty,  Wil- 
liam the  First,  has  since  then  reigned  and  his  reign 
has  been  one  glorious  in  war  and  successful  in  peace, 
as  I  shall  have  occasion  to  explain  to  you  later.  The 
King  is  a  man  of  great  capabilities  —  able,  sagacious 


92         THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

and  of  strong  will,  but  of  late  years  he  has  grown  very 
fond  of  the  gayeties  of  life,  so  much  so  that,  like 
Charles  II.  of  England,  he  is  often  referred  to  as 
i  The  Merry  Monarch.'  The  brilliancy  of  his  Court 
has  grown  apace,  and  indeed  it  exceeds  that  of  any 
other  reigning  sovereign.  But  amid  all  this  glitter 
and  gayety  the  affairs  of  State  are  well  looked  after. 
The  officers  of  the  Chancellerie  are  in  the  palace  it- 
self, and  still  at  the  helm  is  the  stern  old  Chancellor 
—  the  great  American  Lord  Chancellor,  His  Grace, 
the  Duke  of  Marquauna." 


CHAPTER  VII. 

THE    POT    CALLS    THE   KETTLE    BLACK 

"  And  who  was  the  most  beautiful  woman  of  that 
time  and  —  and  —  what  did  she  look  like  ?  Oh,  do 
tell  me  all  about  it.    I'm  so  interested !  " 

So  prattled  away  Beatrice,  daughter  of  Colonel 
Sir  Maynard  Cuming,  sprightly  and  eighteen,  as 
she  sat  at  the  head  of  the  breakfast  table,  and 
daintily  served  Kearns  and  the  Professor  with  their 
tea.  The  Colonel  was  a  widower  and  this  little  lady 
—  half  woman,  half  child  still  —  with  her  handsome 
dark  eyes  and  arch,  impetuous  ways  was  his  only 
daughter. 

"  Do  tell  me  all  about  it,"  she  continued  pleading- 
ly. "  I  want  to  know  all  about  her.  The  books  — ■ 
histories  and  things  like  that — 'tell  a  lot  of  things 
which  are  not  at  all  interesting  and  leave  out  the 
most  important  things  of  all.  Who  was  the  most 
beautiful  woman  ?  " 

Both  Kearns  and  the  Professor  seemed  quite  per- 
plexed. 

The  Colonel  laughed.  "  Now  you  are  confronted 
with  a  poser,"  he  said.  "  This  might  be  a  rather 
awkward  question  under  some  circumstances,  but  you 
can  certainly  answer  it  without  danger  of  making 
any  particular  lady  jealous." 

"  Now,  papa,"  protested  Beatrice,  "  please  don't 
interrupt  and  lead  away  from  my  question." 

"  I  fear  it  is  useless  to  appeal  to  me,  Miss  Cum- 
93 


94  THE  FIRST  AMERICAN"  KING 

ing,"  finally  answered  the  Professor.  "  My  friend, 
I  imagine,  is  better  qualified  to  answer  such  a  ques- 
tion." 

"  Oh,  I  don't  know  about  that !  "  exclaimed 
Kearns ;  "  I've  noticed  that  you  scientists,  for  all 
your  air  of  scientific  abstraction,  have  very  often  an 
exceedingly  keen  eye  to  feminine  charms  and  graces. 
Who  was  the  most  beautiful  woman  ?  How  can  one 
answer  such  a  question  when  all  the  women  of  —  of 
—  our  day  were  so  beautiful !  In  those  days,  to 
walk  up  Broadway  from  Twenty-third  to  Thirty- 
fourth  streets,  on  a  bright  afternoon,  was  to  see  a 
galaxy  of  American  beauty  and  Paris  fashions  pass 
in  review." 

"  Broadway,  between  Twenty-third  and  Thirty- 
fourth  streets,"  repeated  Miss  Beatrice.  "  Where 
is  that,  papa  1 " 

"  Oh,  my  dear,"  answered  the  Colonel,  "  that's 
a  part  of  the  city  given  over  entirely  to  the  business 
section.    You  have  never  been  there." 

"  I  see!  "  answered  Beatrice  thoughtfully.  "  But 
what  did  you  say  about  Paris  fashions,  Mr. 
Kearns  ?  Did  the  ladies  in  those  days  get  their 
fashions  from  Paris  ?  " 

"  Yes,  indeed,"  answered  Kearns.  "  Paris  was 
then  considered  the  great  centre  from  which  all  the 
fashions  in  dresses  and  bonnets  were  procured." 

"  What  a  funny  idea !  "  laughed  the  girl.  "  To- 
day," she  continued  proudly,  "  our  capital  and  our 
Court  give  the  fashions  to  the  world." 

"  I'm  glad  to  learn  it,"  exclaimed  Kearns  with 
enthusiasm.  "  It  should  have  been  the  same  in  our 
day,  as  far  as  New  York  and  the  fashions  were  con- 
cerned. As  a  matter  of  fact,  it  was  so  to  a  greater 
extent  than  was  then  generally  imagined.  Dresses 
and  hats  which  were  labeled  as  made  in  Paris  were, 


POT  CALLS  THE  KETTLE  BLACK     95 

in  reality,  manufactured  in  IsTew  York.  American 
skill  and  taste  really  were  matchless,  but  the  popular 
fad  of  that  day  was  to  demand  Paris-made  articles 
and  the  enterprising  shop-keeper  filled  that  demand 
by  furnishing  Paris  goods  —  made  in  America." 

"  All  that  is  changed  now,"  said  the  Colonel.  "  As 
Trixy  says,  to-day  American  fashions  concededly  lead 
the  world." 

A  servant  entered,  extending  to  the  Colonel  a  silver 
salver  upon  which  lay  a  letter. 

"Pardon  me,"  said  the  Colonel,  as  he  broke  the 
seal.  "  Ah !  this  is  indeed  news !  "  he  exclaimed, 
as  he  rapidly  read.  "  We  are  shortly  to  have  with 
us  a  most  distinguished  visitor." 

"  Who  is  it,  papa  ? "  inquired  Beatrice  with 
curiosity.     . 

"  General  Mainwarren,"  answered  the  Colonel.  "  I 
must  tell  you  about  him  before  he  arrives,"  he  added, 
turning  to  his  guests.  "  General  Mainwarren,  who, 
by  the  way,  is  a  distant  cousin  of  ours,  was  a  most 
distinguished  soldier  during  the  war  with  Russia." 

"  What !  Has  the  United  States  been  at  war  with 
Russia  ?  "  exclaimed  Kearns  and  the  Professor  in  a 
breath. 

"  Yes,"  answered  the  Colonel,  "  that  is  one  of  the 
many  events  which  I  have  not  yet  had  an  opportunity 
to  tell  to  you.  Our  commercial  interests  with  Great 
Britain  became  so  great,  and  the  amount  of  our  sur- 
plus capital  invested  in  British  enterprises  so  large, 
that  a  defensive  alliance  with  that  country  grew  to  be 
a  matter  of  necessity.  When  the  integrity  of  the 
British  Empire  and  incidentally  the  safety  of  our 
commercial  interests  came  to  be  imperiled  by  the 
encroachments  of  the  great  barbaric  Power  of  the 
North,  it  was  found  necessary  for  the  United  States 
to  step  in  and  lend  a  helping  hand.     The  war  with 


96         THE  EIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

Russia  was  long  and  bloody  and  Napoleon's  famous 
invasion  of  the  Russian  Empire  was  duplicated  by 
the  allied  armies  of  the  United  States  and  Great 
Britain.  Great  battles  were  fought;  great  victories 
wore  won  and  —  needless  to  say  —  we  eventually 
triumphed." 

"  How  could  it  be  otherwise !  What  can  withstand 
the  Anglo-Saxon  race !  "  exclaimed  the  Professor 
proudly. 

"  To  think  that  all  this  should  have  been  going  on 
and  I  asleep !  "  cried  Kearns  regretfully. 

"  But  I  must  hurry  and  tell  you  about  General 
Mainwarren,"  continued  the  Colonel.  "  As  I  said 
before,  he  distinguished  himself  during  this  war 
with  Russia ;  became  the  pride  of  the  people  and  the 
idol  of  his  soldiers.  After  the  war,  he  fell  into  dis- 
favor, owing  to  views  which  were  regarded  as  —  as 
—  disloyal.  He  was  opposed  to  the  general  economic 
conditions  —  to  the  Trusts  and  the  power  wielded  by 
them.  This  was  strange,  inasmuch  as  his  elder 
brother  was  the  head  of  the  great  Ores  and  Minerals 
Trust,  of  which  the  Coal  Trust  was  one  of  the  sub- 
sidiary organizations.  I  never  knew  the  precise  rights 
of  the  matter,  but  the  General  fell  into  disfavor  and 
was  retired  from  active  service  on  half  pay.  He 
was  not  honored  with  a  title  as  had  been  officers  of 
far  less  distinguished  service,  but  was  studiously  ig- 
nored in  this  respect  by  the  Sovereign.  For  a  brief 
period  he  lived  in  comparative  poverty  and  obscurity. 
His  brother's  only  son  was  fatally  injured  one  day 
in  an  accident.  The  news  was  carried  to  the  young 
man's  father.  He  was  an  old  man  and  its  sudden- 
ness overwhelmed  him.  He  dropped  where  he  stood 
and  never  recovered  consciousness.  Everything  he 
possessed  had  been  left  to  his  only  son  and  this  son 
survived  the  father  by  only  a  few  hours,  dying  in- 


POT  CALLS  THE  KETTLE  BLACK  97 

testate.  His  uncle,  the  General,  was  the  only  rela- 
tive and  he  inherited  everything  as  the  heir-at-law 
of  the  son.  Tims,  in  one  day,  he  saw  himself  lifted 
into  the  position  of  one  of  the  richest  men  in  the 
country." 

"  What  a  strange  turn  of  fortune !  "  exclaimed  the 
Professor. 

"  Yes,"  answered  the  Colonel ;  "  but  that  is  not  all 
there  is  to  tell.  After  he  came  into  these  immense 
properties,  a  change  seemed  to  pass  over  him.  Where 
before  he  had  figured  as  the  friend  of  the  masses,  he 
now  appeared  as  the  direct  reverse.  In  fact,  various 
industrial  measures  adopted  by  him  were  of  so  grasp- 
ing, uncompromising  and  offensive  a  character  as  to 
draw  forth  widespread  condemnation.  Even  the  gov- 
ernment protested.  It  regarded  his  line  of  action  as 
calculated  to  foment  public  discontent  and  was,  there- 
fore, a  menace.  And  so  it  came  about  that  where  his 
championship  of  popular  rights  had  before  drawn 
upon  him  the  displeasure  of  the  Throne,  he  was  now 
in  disfavor  at  Court  for  his  radical  course  in  precise- 
ly the  opposite  direction.     Curious,  is  it  not  \  " 

"  That's  the  way  of  mankind,"  commented  Kearns. 
"  It  was  the  same  in  our  day.  One  kind  of  a  man 
in  adversity  and  a  totally  different  kind  of  a  man  in 
prosperity.    How  often  one  sees  that !  " 

"  I  don't  care  what  they  say  of  Cousin  Main  war- 
ren," interposed  Beatrice  warmly.  "  I  believe  he 
has  a  kind  heart.  But  to  come  back  to  our  subject," 
she  added,  addressing  Kearns,  "  is  it  true  that  the 
ladies  at  that  time " 

Her  question  was  interrupted  by  the  entrance  of 
a  servant,  who  announced  the  arrival  of  General 
Mainwarren.  The  Colonel  hurried  out  to  receive 
him. 

A  few  moments  later  he   returned,   accompanied 


93  THE  FIKST  AMERICAN  KING 

by  a  man  of  most  striking  personality.  He  was  tall 
beyond  the  usual  height,  broad  shouldered  and  mas- 
sive, with  a  large,  strong  face,  every  line  and  con- 
tour of  which  was  indicative  of  resolution  and  power. 

The  new-comer  greeted  Beatrice  with  cheery  cour- 
tesy and  the  Colonel  presented  General  Mainwar- 
ren  to  his  guests. 

"  I  need  not  disguise  from  you,  gentlemen,"  said 
the  General,  "  that  I  know  of  the  experiences  through 
which  you've  passed.  The  wildest  rumors  on  the 
subject  are  current  in  Pemberton  and  the  newspapers 
are  full  of  them.  However,  I  trust  you  won't  allow 
this  to  distress  you.  May  I  ask  how  you  like  the  new 
condition  of  things  ?  "  The  General  turned  a  keen 
and  searching  glance  upon  them  as  he  put  the  ques- 
tion. 

"  Well,"  laughed  the  Professor,  "  it  used  to  be  the 
custom  with  the  reporters  of  our  day,  when  foreign- 
ers landed  upon  our  shores,  to  inquire  how  they 
liked  the  country.  As  the  visitor's  actual  experience 
consisted  of  a  five  minutes'  sojourn  on  the  dock,  the 
question  was  naturally  difficult  to  answer.  It  seems 
to  me  we  are  much  in  the  same  position." 

"  So  you  are,"  answered  the  General,  smiling.  "  I 
may  say  to  you,  however,  that  you  will  find  things 
much  changed  —  much  improved  in  some  respects, 
you  will,  perhaps,  decide." 

"  How  do  you  happen  to  be  traveling  this  way  ?  " 
asked  Beatrice,  with  a  woman's  curiosity. 

"  Ah,"  said  the  General,  with  a  light  laugh, 
"  there's  a  story  connected  with  that.  I've  been  fa- 
vored with  a  special  summons  to  attend  at  Court  — 
to  be  received  in  special  audience  by  His  Majesty  and 
the  Chancellor." 

The  Colonel  looked  up  sharply  and  turned  a  quick, 
inquiring  glance  upon  the  speaker. 


POT  CALLS  THE  KETTLE  BLACK      99 

"  There  —  is  —  no  —  new  —  trouble  ?  "  he  fal- 
tered. 

"I  don't  know,"  said  the  General  lightly.  "  It  is 
usually  a  sign  of  favor  for  a  subject  to  be  summoned 
to  attend  the  Court  of  the  King.  In  my  case  per- 
haps   " 

He  stopped  abruptly  and  glanced  toward  Beatrice. 

The  young  lady  rose  quickly  from  the  table. 

"  I  know  you  want  to  discuss  business  and  politics 
and  horrid  things  of  that  kind,"  she  exclaimed  petu- 
lantly, "  so  I'll  disappear.  But  you  and  I,"  she  con- 
tinued, turning  to  the  General,  "  will  have  a  little 
tete-a-tete  before  you  leave,  won't  we  ?  If  you  are 
going  to  Court,  you  can  take  a  message  to  Dorothy." 

"  Certainly,"  smilingly  answered  the  General,  and 
Beatrice  tripped  from  the  room. 

"  I  think  we  might  take  a  turn  in  the  garden," 
remarked  the  Professor  to  Kearns. 

"  !N"o,  no ;  please  don't  go,"  exclaimed  the  General. 
"  I'll  be  indebted  if  you  will  remain.  I  would  like 
to  have  your  opinion  on  certain  matters." 

"  You  are  sure  ?  "  said  the  Professor  hesitatingly. 

"  Quite,  quite  sure,"  declared  the  General.  "  Pray 
be  seated." 

The  Professor  sank  back  into  his  seat. 

"  There's  some  trouble,  I  feel  convinced,"  said  the 
Colonel  with  an  air  of  concern. 

"  Well,"  answered  General  Mainwarren,  "  I'll  re- 
lieve you  of  any  suspense.  I've  been  summoned  to 
Court  to  confer  with  the  Emperor  and  his  Chancellor 
regarding  certain  operations  contemplated  by  the 
Coal  Trust,  of  which,"  he  added  with  an  explanatory 
wave  of  the  hand  to  the  Professor  and  Kearns,  "  I 
am  the  head." 

"  Yes,  yes,"  interjected  the  Colonel ;  "  but  what's 
the  nature  of  these  new  operations  ?  " 


100        THE  FIEST  AMERICAN  KING 

"  Simply  this,"  replied  the  General  carelessly ;  "  it 
has  been  decided,  to  describe  the  plan  briefly,  to  with- 
hold the  output  of  coal  and  to  force  up  the  price  dur- 
ing the  coming  winter  to  fifteen  crowns  the  ton." 

"  No,  no ;  surely  not !  "  cried  the  Colonel. 

"  It  has  been  decided  and  will  be  done,"  said  Gen- 
eral Mainwarren  firmly.  "  The  Sovereign,  the  Chan- 
cellor and  the  Imperial  Council  are  much  exercised, 
I  understand,  in  view  of  the  effect  it  is  likely  to  have 
upon  the  masses.  Hence  my  summons  to  Court! 
And,"  continued  the  General,  turning  to  the  Pro- 
fessor, "  what  do  you  say  to  this  plan  ?  You  had  cer- 
tain experiences  of  this  kind  in  your  dav,  did  vou 
not?" 

"  I  must  decline  to  express  an  opinion,"  answered 
the  Professor  coldly.  "  I'm  not  sufficiently  familiar 
with  existing  conditions  to  express  an  opinion.  How 
am  I  to  know  what  will  be  the  effect  upon  the  people 
at  large  ? " 

"  It  will  result  in  widespread  suffering  and  dis- 
tress; in  misery  of  the  most  dreadful  kind,"  said  the 
Colonel,  sadly. 

"  Say,  if  you  like,"  replied  General  Mainwarren 
with  brutal  directness,  "  that  it  will  result  in  wide- 
spread desolation  and  death.  You  may  speak  out. 
I'm  not  thin-skinned  and  don't  mind  hearing  the 
truth.  Many  factories  must  close  and  tens  of  thou- 
sands will  be  thrown  out  of  work ;  to  say  nothing  of 
the  misery  and  death  which  will  ensue  from  actual 
cold.  Hence  the  Court  is  exercised;  hence  it  sends 
for  me,  but  —  it  will  be  in  vain !  " 

"  And  you,"  said  the  Professor,  turning  horror- 
stricken  eyes  upon  the  speaker,  "  realizing  all  these 
things,  will  still  persist  in  your  course !  " 

"  Absolutely  and  unalterably,"  answered  the  Gen- 
eral sternly.     "  I've  been  sent  for  to  present  myself 


POT  CALLS  THE  KETTLE  BLACK    101 

at  Court.  I'll  be  wheedled,  pleaded  with,  threatened 
and  cajoled,  but  —  it  will  be  for  naught.  Ah,  you 
seem  astonished.    What,  then,  is  the  view  you  take  ?  " 

"  Sir,"  said  the  Professor,  rising,  his  eyes  flash- 
ing in  indignation  and  anger,  "  you  have  twice  asked 
my  opinion  and  I'll  give  it,  fully  and  freely,  as  man 
to  man.  I  consider  that  any  man  who  will  heartlessly 
throw  tens  of  thousands  of  working  men  out  of  em- 
ployment; who  will  expose  tens  of  thousands  to 
misery  and  want ;  who  will  let  women  and  children 
languish  and  die  from  privation  and  cold,  is  a  mon- 
ster in  human  form  —  a  fiend  incarnate  !  His  fellow 
men  should  turn  from  him  in  horror  and  in  loathing ;. 
his  mother  reproach  herself  that  she  gave  him  birth. 
That's  my  opinion,  sir.  God  created  these  coal  lands 
for  the  benefit  of  humanity  in  general.  It  is  prepos- 
terous to  suppose  that  He  created  them  for  the  exclu- 
sive benefit  of  any  one  man,  or  set  of  men.  The  gov- 
ernment that  permits  such  action  as  you  wish  to  take 
is  unworthy  to  stand;  it  should  be  swept  out  of  ex- 
istence !  " 

"  My  dear  Professor !  "  interjected  Kearns,  en- 
deavoring to  allay  his  companion's  warmth ;  "  are 
you  not  a  little  too  vehement  ?  " 

"  You  will  pardon  me,"  said  the  Professor,  turn- 
ing to  Colonel  Cuming,  "  but  I  can't  retract,  or  even 
modify,  my  words.  I  thank  you  for  your  kindly  hos- 
pitality, which  I  have  but  ill-repaid.  I'll  now  with- 
draw from  your  presence  and  your  house." 

General  Mainwarren  had  listened  with  flushed  face 
and  contracted  brows. 

"  No,  no,"  he  interposed  hastily,  "  no  apology  is 
either  necessary  or  proper.  I  asked  your  opinion ; 
you've  given  it.  An  honest  opinion  is  always  de- 
serving of  respect ;  the  more  frank  and  outspoken,  the 
better  it  is.     That  which  I  take  exception  to  is  not 


102        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

the  words  themselves,  but  at  such  words  from  you  — > 
you!" 

"  From  me !  "  exclaimed  the  Professor.  "  And 
why  particularly  from  me  \  " 

"  From  you,  sir,"  continued  the  General,  with  fiery 
emphasis,  "  or  from  any  man  of  your  clay.  Isn't  it  to 
the  men  of  your  day  that  we  owe  the  examples  we  fol- 
low ?  If  I  mistake  not  it  was  precisely  the  men  of 
your  time  who  first  taught  to  this  land  the  lesson  of 
the  concentration  of  capital ;  wasn't  it  your  capitalists 
who  first  promulgated  the  theory  of  their  divine  ap- 
pointment to  the  control  of  the  good  things  of  this 
world  \  " 

"  That  theory  was  the  theory  of  the  Few  ;  not  of  the 
Many,"  objected  the  Professor. 

"  It  was  certainly  tolerated  and  permitted  by  the 
people  of  your  time,"  retorted  General  Mainwarren, 
"  and  in  pursuing  my  course  I'm  only  following  out 
that  which  has  been  a  sanctioned  time-honored  cus- 
tom. If  the  people  objected  to  these  things,  the 
proper  time  to  have  stopped  them  was  when  they 
first  began.  1  forgive  your  words,  Professor  Dean ; 
I  bear  no  rancor.  But  such  words  coming  from  a 
man  of  your  era  is,  upon  my  honor,  like  the  pot  call- 
ing the  kettle  black !  " 

The  Professor  was  about  to  reply,  but  his  answer 
was  cut  short  by  the  entry  of  a  servant,  bringing  a 
card  to  Colonel  Cuming.  The  Colonel  took  the  card 
from  the  salver,  glanced  at  it  and  gave  a  direction  to 
the  servant,  who  immediately  retired. 

Rising  and  holding  between  his  fingers  the  card 
which  had  been  brought  to  him,  he  faced  the  others : 

"  A  messenger  from  His  Majesty,  the  King,"  he 
said. 


CHAPTER  VIII 

MR.  KEARNS  HAS  A  PREMONITION", 

For  some  moments  after  the  Colonel  had  left  the 
room  the  three  men  sat  in  silence.  Then  General 
Ma  in  warren  turned  to  the  Professor. 

'  You  will  forgive  me  if  my  words  have  been  too 
blunt,"  he  said  courteously ;  "  but  students  of  soci- 
ology agree  that  the  conditions  of  the  present  epoch 
had  their  origin  in  your  day ;  that  such  origin  can  be 
distinctly  traced  back ;  and  that  with  the  men  of  your 
time  lies  the  responsibility  for  whatever  exists  to- 
day." 

"  And  you,  I  trust,  will  pardon  any  undue  warmth 
on  my  side,"  replied  the  Professor,  "  but  this  I  must 
say ;  however  much  you  may  be  disposed  to  blame  the 
people  of  my  day,  you,  personally,  if  you  will  permit 
me  to  say  so,  seem  disposed  to  carry  out  measures  far 
more  arbitrary  and  drastic  than  were  ever  adopted  in 
our  time." 

''  You  refer  to  the  measures  I  spoke  of  in  relation 
to  the  coal  supply  ?  "  asked  General  Mainwarren. 

:'  Yes.  Certainly  you  don't  claim  that  God,  or 
Nature  —  call  it  what  you  will  —  placed  those  de- 
posits exclusively  for  your  benefit  and  that  you  can 
deal  with  them  absolutely  as  you  will,  regardless  of 
the  rights,  interests  or  welfare  of  humanity  in  gen- 
eral ?  " 

"  It  was  ill-advised,"  retorted  the  General,  slow- 
ly and  with  emphasis,  "  for  you  to  raise  that  point. 

103  * 


104        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

If  you  will  remember,  it  was  in  your  time  that  that 
very  point  was  first  set  up." 

"  I  fail  to  recall " 

"  Surely  not !  Wasn't  it  in  your  day  that  the  claim 
was  for  the  first  time  advanced  that  these  very  coal 
deposits  were  vested  in  certain  hands  by  divine  ap- 
pointment and  that  the  right  to  manage  such  proper- 
ties must  be  left  solely  and  entirely  to  the  discretion 
of  those  whom  the  Almighty  had  so  selected  ?  Wasn't 
this  question  of  divine  right  advanced,  for  the  first 
time  in  the  history  of  the  Republic,  in  your  day  and 
—  successfully  maintained  ?  " 

"  How  successfully  maintained  ?  " 

"  Can  you  even  question !  I  have  studied  care- 
fully the  history  of  the  time  and  I  at  least  know  my 
facts.  Wasn't  the  situation  then  critical  enough  ? 
The  operators  withheld  the  output.  The  people  were 
perishing  from  cold.  Death  stalked  abroad.  Had 
not  the  State  Government  ample  power  to  declare 
that  the  public  health  and  safety  required  the  seizure 
of  those  lands,  with  compensation,  of  course,  to  the 
owners?  This  sovereignty  right  of  eminent  domain 
was  invoked  when  it  was  a  question  of  putting 
through  a  new  street,  or  creating  a  right  of  way  for 
some  quasi-public  corporation.  But  when  it  came  to 
exercising  the  right  against  a  powerful  corporation,  it 
seems  your  suffering  people  feared  to  even  whisper- 
ingly  advocate  the  measure.  So,"  continued  the  Gen- 
eral, "  the  people  were  permitted  to  languish  and  die 
and  the  theory  of  divine  right  took  its  birth  and,  as 
you  perceive,  has  flourished  apace  since  then." 

"  By  George !  there's  a  good  deal  of  truth  in  what 
you  say !  "  exclaimed  Kearns. 

"  When  did  these  events  occur  to  which  you  have 
referred  ?  "  questioned  the  Professor. 

"  Early  in  the  present  century,"  replied  the  General. 


KEARNS  HAS  A  PREMONITION     105 

"We  must  distinctly  disclaim  responsibility  for 
anything  occurring  after  June  the  tenth,  nineteen 
hundred/'  declared  the  Professor,  with  a  smile. 

"True,  I  had  forgotten  that!"  replied  General 
Mamwarren  with  a  laugh. 

"  But  what  I  don't  understand,"  said  the  Profes- 
sor, agam  grown  serious,  "  is  that  you,  who  seem  to  so 
thoroughly  grasp  and  understand  these  evils,  should 
be  willing  to  actively  engage  in  their  perpetuation." 
.Before  General  Mainwarren  could  reply  to  this 
home-thrust,  the  door  opened  and  Colonel  Cumins 
reappeared. 

<  "  Can  you  imagine,"  he  exclaimed  with  evident  ex- 
citement, "  the  errand  of  the  royal  messenger  2  " 

Oh,  to  hurry  Somebody  on  his  journey,  of  course 
—  before  weve  had  half  a  chance  of  enjoying  his 
society,  pouted  Beatrice,  who  had  followed  "the  Col- 
onel into  the  room.     "  A  summons  to  Court " 

"A  summons  to  Court  — that  part  is  right"  in- 
terrupted the  Colonel,  "but  you  haven't  guessed 
rightly  as  to  whom.  The  message  is  this :  '  His  Ma- 
jesty commands  Colonel  Sir  Maynard  Cuming  to  re- 
pair at  once  to  Court  and  to  bring  with  him  his  not- 
able guests,  Professor  Walter  Stuart  Dean  and  Mr 
ihomas  Kearns,  the  details  concerning  whose  remark- 
able experiences  His  Majesty  has  learned  with  much 
interest.'     What  do  you  say  to  that  ?  " 

Both  the  Professor  and  Kearns  stood  agape  with 
astonishment.  Beatrice's  voice  was  the  first  to  break 
the  silence. 

^  And  do  I  go,  too,  papa  ? " 

£  Certainly,  my  dear  —  if  you  wish." 

rt.-  i  L^f1  Fell>  JeS'  J  decide<%  do.  Just 
think  of  the  fun  of  going  to  Court  and  seeing  cousin 
Dorothy.  My  cousin,  Dorothy,"  she  added,  as  an  ex- 
planatory interjection  for  the  benefit  of  the  Professor 


106        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  [KING 

arid  Kearns,  "  is  one  of  the  maids  of  honor  to  the 
Queen." 

"  Yes,"  added  General  Mainwarren,  "  and  she  is 
as  popular  at  the  Court  as  she  is  beautiful,  which  in 
this  case  is  saying  much." 

"  Ah,  my  dear,"  exclaimed  the  Colonel  wistfully, 
"  you  haven't  seen  Dorothy  since  you  were  quite  a 
little  girl.  I  fear  you  may  find  things  somewhat 
changed.  Dorothy  may  not  be  inclined  to  devote  so 
much  attention  to  my  little  country  bud  as  in  the  old 
days." 

"  Oh,"  said  Beatrice  with  enthusiasm,  "  I  am  con- 
vinced Dorothy  will  never  change  toward  me.  She's 
not  that  kind.     When  do  we  start  \  " 

"  To-morrow." 

"  To-morrow  !  Oh,  how  shall  I  ever  be  able  to  get 
ready !  I  must  be  off  to  look  after  things.  I  hope 
I  shan't  appear  before  the  Court  and  Dorothy  quite 
like  a  dowdy !  "    And  she  pirouetted  out  of  the  room. 

"  Forgive  her,  gentlemen,"  said  the  Colonel  in- 
dulgently, "  she's  only  a  child  yet,  you  know.  But, 
tell  me  what  you  think  of  this  news  I  bring." 

"  Think !  "  replied  the  Professor ;  "  what  are  we  to 
think.  It's  impossible  to  imagine  what  we  can  be 
needed  for  —  except,  perhaps,  as  curiosities.  I'm 
quite  unfamiliar  with  the  atmosphere  of  a  Court  and 
I  think  I  may  truthfully  say  that  my  friend  Kearns 
is  equally  so.     I  don't  know  whether  we  should  go." 

"  And  I  think  I  may  truthfully  say,"  declared 
Kearns,  with  a  laugh,  "  that  I  have  had  an  extensive 
experience  with  courts,  though  not  of  this  precise 
character.  Still,  like  the  Professor,  I  am  in  doubt 
as  to  whether  we  ought  to  go.  I've  no  particular  lik- 
ing for  figuring;  as  a  curiosity." 

"  It  would  never  do  to  refuse  the  royal  command, 
said  the  Colonel.     "  Oh,  by  the  way,  there  is  some- 


KEARNS  HAS  A  PREMONITION      107 

thing  I  had  nearly  forgotten.  His  Majesty  has  es- 
pecially inquired  as  to  the  health  of  Mr.  Kearns  and 
will  receive  him  in  special  audience  immediately 
after  his  arrival  at  the  Court." 

"  Well,  well,"  exclaimed  the  Professor  with  light 
sarcasm,  "  let  me  congratulate  you,  my  friend.  You 
seem  to  be  basking  in  the  sunshine  of  royal  favor." 

But  Kearns  sat  with  bent  brows,  apparently  in. 
deep  thought.  A  moment  later  he  sprang  lightly  to 
his  feet. 

"  Yes,"  he  exclaimed  with  determination,  "  we'll 
go.     I've  been  there  before,  you  know." 

"  Where  ? "  asked  the  Professor.  "  To  the 
Court?" 

"  No,"  answered  Kearns  grimly,  "  not  to  the 
Court,  but  I've  had  experiences  of  this  kind  before. 
In  the  old  days  there  were  lots  of  times  when  the  rich 
and  the  grand  solicitously  inquired  as  to  the  health  of 
Mr.  Thomas  Kearns  and  were  graciously  pleased  — 
it  used  to  be  '  exceedingly  pleased '  or  '  eagerly  anx- 
ious '  in  those  days  —  to  receive  him  in  special  audi- 
ence. My  experience  tells  me  that  when  the  rich  and 
the  great  and  the  mighty  are  suddenly  seized  with  a 
vivid  interest  in  my  health,  joined  to  an  anxiety  to 
see  me  in  special  audience,  it  is  safe  to  gamble  there 
are  special  reasons  therefor.  In  the  classic  language 
of  my  day :  '  There  is  something  doing  ' —  some 
cash,  or  jewels,  or  maybe  a  lady  gone  astray  and 
Thomas  Kearns  is  needed  to  fix  the  difficulty,  or  solve 
the  puzzle." 

"  You  think,"  said  the  Professor,  "  that " 

"  That  there  is  some  trouble  at  Court,  or  some  dan- 
ger which  threatens  the  King  upon  his  throne,"  said 
Kearns  with  conviction. 

"  I  shall  not  be  astonished  if  you  were  right,"  paid 
General  Mainwarren  slowly. 


108        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

The  rest  of  the  day  was  spent  in  preparations  for 
the  departure.  Not  least  amongst  these  preparations 
was  the  selection  for  the  Professor  and  Kearns,  of 
a  wardrobe  which  would  modernize  them  in  dress,  at 
least.  Some  further  instruction  as  to  the  changes 
which  had  taken  place  and  as  to  the  methods  and 
manners  of  the  Court  were  also  given,  with  General 
Mainwarren  and  the  Colonel  as  instructors.  Inter- 
spersed with  matters  of  Court  etiquette,  they  learned 
the  details  of  the  great  war  recently  so  successfully 
closed  between  Russia  and  the  Allies  —  the  United 
States  and  Great  Britain  —  in  which,  after  many 
fierce  struggles  and  an  invasion  resembling  in  many 
details  that  of  the  great  Napoleon,  the  power  of  tho 
fierce,  barbaric  Colossus  of  the  North  had  finally 
been  crushed. 

At  dinner  that  evening,  Beatrice,  full  of  life  and 
spirits,  was  in  joyous  anticipation  of  the  journey  be- 
fore them.  Her  prattle  kept  the  party  in  merry 
mood,  all  except  General  Mainwarren,  who  seemed 
somewhat  thoughtful  and  preoccupied. 

"  We  will  enjoy  our  coffee  and  cigars  in  the  music 
room,"  said  the  Colonel  to  the  Professor  and  Kearns, 
when  dinner  was  over.  "  You  shall  indulge  in  a  treat 
that  was  unattainable  in  your  times." 

He  led  the  way  to  a  spacious  apartment  adjoining 
the  library  —  an  apartment  from  walls  of  which  pro- 
truded a  number  of  giant-like  trumpets. 

"  There,"  said  the  Colonel,  pointing  to  two  of  the 
larger  instruments,  "  we  have  direct  connection  with 
the  Haymarket  Theatre,  in  London,  and  also  with  the 
Covent  Garden  Theatre.  Those  other  two  instruments 
connect  with  two  opera  houses  in  Paris.  I  cannot 
treat  you  to  English,  or  to  French  opera.  Owing  to 
the  difference  in  time,  neither  of  these  cities  is  in 
action  at  its  theatres  at  this  moment.     I  can,  how- 


KEARNS  HAS  A  PREMONITION     109 

ever,  let  you  hear  some  of  the  leading  attractions  in 
New  York." 

"  You  mean  to  say,"  exclaimed  the  Professor  with 
rapt  interest,  "  that  you  are  practically  in  telephonic 
communication  with  the  principal  cities,  of  the 
world  ? " 

"  Hardly  that,"  answered  the  Colonel  modestly, 
"  since  my  music  room  is  not  large  enough  to  permit 
of  it,  but  it  could  be  done.  As  it  is,  I  am  in  touch 
with  London,  Paris,  and  several  of  the  principal  cities 
in  this  country.  Now,  listen  to  this.  I  am  going  to 
connect  with  the  Polly  Theatre,  in  New  York.  They 
have  a  revival  on  there  of  an  old  operetta ;  quite  a 
favorite,  I  believe,  in  your  time." 

"  What  is  its  name  ?  "  asked  Kearns. 

"  Dolly  Varden,"  replied  the  Colonel  effusively ; 
"  Dolly  Varden,  the  title  role  of  which,  if  I  recall 
aright,  was  created  by  that  charming  artiste  of  your 
day,  Glaser  —  the  glorious  Glaser,  whose  name  has 
come  down  to  us  as  the  queen  of  comedy  of  the  West- 
ern world." 

As  the  Colonel  finished  speaking,  he  turned  a  rub- 
ber-covered knob  in  the  wall  beside  one  of  the  instru- 
ments and  instantly  there  floated  through  the  room 
the  strains  of  "  The  Lay  of  the  Jay,"  from  Edwards' 
captivating  operetta.  Sweetly  and  clearly  music  and 
words  floated  into  the  room : 

"  Once  there  was  a  jay-bird ;  a  rather  ancient  jay-bird, 
Who  lived  on  the  top  of  a  tree." 

As  the  song  ended,  Kearns  and  the  Professor  were 
visibly  affected. 

The  minutes  passed.  Still  they  listened,  en- 
tranced, until  the  close  of  the  opera.  Then  came  the 
sounds  of  a  moving  multitude,  joined  to  the  playing 
of  the  band. 

"  The  audience  is  leaving,"  remarked  the  Profes- 


110        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

sor  regretfully,  "  and  the  orchestra  is  playing  the  air 
*  My  Country  'Tis  of  Thee.'  Thank  God !  You  have, 
at  least,  retained  that  old,  familiar  song." 

"  You  mistake ! "  said  General  Mainwarren 
solemnly.     "  It  is  no  longer  known  by  that  name." 

"  What,  then  ?  "  gasped  the  Professor. 

"  God  Save  our  Gracious  King !  "  said  the  General. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

A  MYSTERY  OF  THE  PALACE, 

The  antechamber  of  the  King,  in  the  great  Sum- 
mer Palace  on  the  hill,  was  crowded  with  officers 
of  the  Army  and  Navy,  financiers  and  statesmen, 
diplomats  and  courtiers.  The  officers  and  the  diplo- 
mats wore  the  uniforms  of  their  respective  services. 
The  rest  were  clad  in  court  costume,  consisting  of 
knee  breeches  and  tunic,  strongly  suggesting  the  court 
dress  of  the  times  of  Louis  XVI.  It  is  said  that  fash- 
ions, like  history,  repeat  themselves  and  here  was  a 
reversion  to  the  models  of  the  gay  French  court  in 
the  days  of  the  Bourbons.  With  the  splendor  of  color 
and  the  glittering  crosses  and  orders  upon  the  breasts 
of  the  men,  the  scene  was  a  brilliant  one. 

A  gorgeously  attired  attendant  stood  at  the  door 
leading  into  the  inner  audience  chamber.  At  inter- 
vals someone  who  had  been  received  in  audience 
would  pass  out  and  the  attendant,  in  a  loud  voice, 
would  call  a  name  and  the  favored  one  would  pass  to 
the  audience  chamber. 

"  General  Mainwarren !  "  called  the  attendant, 
presently,  and  the  General,  leaving  the  side  of  Col- 
onel Cuming,  advanced  and  passed  in. 

The  audience  accorded  the  General  was  not  pro- 
longed. In  a  short  time  he  returned  to  the  ante- 
chamber. There  was  a  slight  flush  upon  his  face  and 
his  mouth  was  set  in  a  determined  line. 

"  How  did  matters  pass  off  ? "  inquired  the  Col- 
onel anxiously. 

Ill 


112        THE  E1EST  AMERICAN"  KING 

"  Nothing  decisive,"  replied  General  Mainwarren. 
"  I  am  commanded  to  remain  at  Court  pending  fur- 
ther discussion.  I  had,  though,  a  rather  sharp  pas- 
sage of  arms  with  Milord  Ashley." 

"  Colonel  Sir  Maynard  Cuming  and  party !  "  the 
attendant  at  that  moment  announced ;  and  the  Colo- 
nel, followed  by  the  Professor  and  Kearns,  entered 
the  audience  chamber. 

The  King  was  seated  in  a  massive  chair  of  magnifi- 
cently carved  oak,  beside  a  portentous-looking  table, 
littered  with  documents  of  state  and  other  papers  tied 
together  with  pink  or  blue  silk  ribbon.  As  he  sat 
there,  he  presented  the  appearance  of  a  man  slightly 
above  the  middle  height,  slight  of  figure  and  thin  of 
face,  with  keen,  bright  blue  eyes,  a  long  and  luxuriant 
brown  moustache  and  short,  closely  clipped,  lighter- 
brown  beard.  The  face,  deeply  marked  with  lines  of 
thought  and  care,  showed  keen  perception  and  sharp 
intuition.  His  movements  were  quick  and  nervous. 
There  was  one  noticeable  mannerism.  The  face  had 
a  peculiar  aptitude  for  breaking  into  a  smile  which  at 
its  moment  of  origin  was  bright  and  cheery  and,  so 
lasting  for  a  moment,  suddenly  died  away  into  a  fixed, 
cold  stare.  It  was  as  a  gleam  of  sunshine,  followed 
by  frost.  He  was  garbed  in  the  dress  of  the  Court 
and  upon  his  breast  glittered  a  single  order. 

Beside  and  slightly  behind  him  stood  Lord  Cyril 
Ashley,  Vice-Chancellor  of  the  Empire  and  Master 
of  the  Imperial  Household.  Lord  Ashley  was  a  well- 
preserved  man  of  middle  age;  tall,  handsome,  and 
of  soldierly  bearing.  The  face,  with  its  dark  eyes, 
strongly  marked  brows  and  sweeping  black  mous- 
tache, was  that  of  a  man  of  stern  will  and  strong 
determination.  He  was  dressed  in  the  dashing  uni- 
form of  a  Captain  of  the  Guards. 

Colonel  Cuming  advanced,  bowing  low  before  the 


A  MYSTERY  OF  THE  PALACE   113 

King,  followed  by  his  two  companions.  The  Colonel 
was  received  by  His  Majesty  with  marked  cordiality 
and  at  the  royal  invitation  he  presented  the  Professor 
and  Kearns.  As  the  latter  was  presented,  the  King 
turned  upon  him  a  sharp,  scrutinizing  glance. 

His  Majesty  listened  to  the  story  of  the  resurrec- 
tion of  the  two  wayfarers  from  the  past  with  an  air 
of  marked  interest  and  after  asking  a  number  of  ques- 
tions signified  that  the  interview  was  at  an  end. 
But  it  was  the  royal  wish  that  Mr.  Thomas  Kearns 
should  remain  in  special  audience. 

Colonel  Cuming  and  the  Professor  accordingly 
backed  out  of  the  royal  presence,  leaving  Kearns 
somewhat  astonished  and  perplexed  amid  his  novel 
surroundings. 

"  History  records,  Mr.  Kearns,"  said  the  King, 
"  that  you  were  the  most  skilful  and  the  most  suc- 
cessful Chief  of  Secret  Service  this  country  has  ever 
known.  Is  not  that  correct,  Milord  ? "  he  asked, 
turning  to  Lord  Ashley. 

"  It  is  so  recorded,  Sire,"  answered  the  Vice-Chan- 
cellor. "  Our  historians  and  our  writers  of  fiction 
have  alike  presented  to  us  Mr.  Kearns  as  the  great 
Chief  of  Secret  Service  of  the  Western  world  —  the 
equal  of  Vidocq,  or  of  Fouche,  if  not  their  superior." 

"Just  so,"  said  the  King;  "and  it  is  precisely  a 
Fouche  that  we  need  at  our  court  at  the  present 
time.  Your  old-time  cunning  is,  doubtless,  still  with 
you?" 

Kearns  bowed  somewhat  awkwardly. 

"  I  do  not  know,  Sire,"  he  answered  simply. 

He  had  heard  both  Colonel  Cuming  and  Lord  Ash- 
ley address  the  King  as  "  Sire,"  and  he  thought  it 
best  to  follow  this  form. 

"  How  so — you  do  not  know  ?  "  inquired  the  King. 

".Well,  Sire,"  replied   Kearns,  "  as  such  talents 


114        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

as  I  once  had  have  not  had  a  chance  of  being  exer- 
cised during  seventy-five  years,  they  may  have  become 
somewhat  rusty.  Besides,  your  writers  have,  perhaps, 
taken  liberties  and  have  exaggerated  somewhat." 

"  Ah,"  exclaimed  the  King,  his  face  breaking  into 
a  pleasant  smile ;  "  the  modesty  of  genius !  "  The 
smile  faded  suddenly  into  that  peculiar  frosty  stare, 
and  he  continued  :  "  We  have,  however,  less  need  for 
modesty  than  for  action.  Do  you  feel  your  abilities 
impaired  ? " 

"  Not  in  the  least,  Sire,"  came  the  quick  answer. 
"  I  feel  as  well  as  ever  I  did  in  my  life." 

"  Why,  then,"  retorted  the  King,  "  should  you 
question  your  ability  ?  Is  it  not  true  that  upon  one 
occasion  you  detected  the  writer  of  certain  letters 
from  among  a  whole  cityful  of  people  ? " 

"  I  had  so  many  cases  in  my  time,  Sire,"  answered 
Kearns,  with  some  hesitancy,  "  that  I  scarcely  recol- 
lect the  particular  case  you  seem  to  have  in  mind. 
My  memory  has  grown  a  little  faint  after  this  lapse 
of  time.  If  you  could  give  me  a  few  details  as  to 
the  circumstances " 

"  The  circumstances,"  exclaimed  the  King,  "  were, 
as  we  remember  them,  as  follows :  An  ancestor  of 
one  of  our  most  distinguished  subjects  —  Baron 
Gold  —  had  been  the  recipient  of  a  number  of  letters, 
written  by  some  unknown  writer,  threatening  him 
with  assassination.  He  sent  to  you  for  aid  in  his 
peril  and,  it  is  recorded,  within  forty-eight  hours, 
by  a  most  ingenious  plan,  you  had  detected  and  ap- 
prehended the  malefactor.     Is  this  true  ?  " 

Kearns  with  difficulty  restrained  himself  from 
laughing  outright.  Well  he  remembered  the  case 
now  and  the  shrewd  face  of  the  ancestor  of  the  distin- 
guished Baron  Gold  rose  with  startling  vividness 
before  his  mental  vision. 


A  MYSTERY  OF  THE  PALACE       115 

"  Quite  true,  Sire,"  he  answered  gravely ;  "  but  the 
case  was  a  rather  simple  one." 

"  A  rather  simple  one !  We  would  have  you  tell 
us  how  you  accomplished  these  things." 

"  In  this  way,  Sire,"  replied  Kearns.  "  As  you 
have  said,  our  friend  —  that  is,  I  should  say,  the  — 
ah  —  distinguished  ancestor  of  the  distinguished 
Baron  Gold  had  been  in  receipt  of  letters  threatening 
him  with  death,  unless  he  paid  a  certain  money 
tribute.  He  was  a  man  of  wealth  —  of  very  great 
wealth  —  but  he  had  a  constitutional  aversion  to  part- 
ing with  it.  Almost  equally  he  disliked  the  possibil- 
ity of  sudden  death." 

Again  the  King  smiled  his  peculiar  smile  of  min- 
gled sunshine  and  frost. 

"  How  the  characteristics  of  the  ancestor  are  car- 
ried down  through  the  generations !  "  he  remarked  to 
Lord  Ashley. 

The  latter  smiled  and  bowed  a  respectful  acquies- 
cence. 

"  Proceed!  "  said  the  King. 

"  Brought  face  to  face  with  these  two  almost  equal- 
ly disagreeable  alternatives,"  continued  Kearns,  "  he 
sent  for  me.  Investigation  quickly  showed  me  that  all 
the  letters  had  been  mailed  within  a  certain  radius 
in  the  city.  I  caused  such  action  to  be  taken  by 
the  ancestor  of  Baron  Gold  as  was  likely  to  lead  to 
an  early  reply  from  the  unknown  letter  writer.  Then 
I  proceeded  to  throw  out  my  net.  I  caused  every 
drop  box  in  the  post  offices  and  every  pillar  box  in 
the  streets  within  the  suspected  district  to  be  watched 
by  two  persons  —  the  one  an  employe  of  the  Post 
Office,  the  other  one  of  my  men.  The  moment  a 
letter  was  dropped,  the  Post  Office  employe  would 
proceed  to  examine  the  address  on  such  letter.  If  it 
was.  not  addressed  to  the  threatened  person,  a  rubber 


116        THE  FIKST  AMERICAN  KIXG 

band  was  twisted  over  the  envelope  to  distinguish  it 
from  anything  dropped  later.  In  this  way  the  Post 
Office  man  was  readily  enabled  to  distinguish  all  the 
examined  letters  from  the  latest  one  dropped. 

"  This  method/'  pursued  Kearns,  "  was  continued 
systematically  for  a  day  and  a  night  without  yielding 
any  result.  On  the  afternoon  of  the  second  day, 
however,  a  man  approached  a  letter  box  in  one  of 
the  side  streets,  deposited  a  letter  and  hastily  walked 
away.  The  Post  Office  employe  stepped  to  the  box, 
opened  it  as  usual  and  —  up  went  his  hand  above 
his  head.  This  was  the  agreed  signal.  In  an  in- 
stant my  man  was  after  the  depositor  of  the  letter  and 
had  him  in  custody.  He  was  brought  before  me  and 
the  letter,  opened  in  his  presence  by  —  ah  —  the  an- 
cestor of  Baron  Gold,  contained  conclusive  proof  of 
his  guilt.  The  man  turned  out  to  be  a  monomaniac, 
hence  his  peculiar  cunning  and  the  difficulty  experi- 
enced in  catching  him  in  any  of  the  ordinary  traps 
usually  laid  in  such  cases.  But,  you  see,  after  all, 
the  case  was  simple  enough." 

"  It  was  highly  ingenious,"  decided  the  King. 
"It  is  recorded  also  that  out  of  a  band  of  men  you 
picked  a  murderer  by  an  examination  of  the  hands 
of  these  men.     Is  this  so  ?  " 

"  Yes,  Sire,"  answered  Kearns ;  "  that's  quite  cor- 
rect. The  case  was  a  more  difficult  one.  The  cir- 
cumstances were  somewhat  repellant." 

"  ^Nevertheless,  we  would  learn  them,"  said  the 
King. 

"  A  woman  had  been  murdered  by  one  of  that  spe- 
cies of  fiends,  half  criminal,  half  madman,  who  spring 
up  from  time  to  time.  The  murderer  in  this  case, 
after  killing  his  victim,  had  torn  away  certain  por- 
tions of  the  body.  In  the  course  of  his  devilish 
work,  he  had  cut  into  and  mutilated  a  portion  of  the 


A  MYSTERY  OF  THE  PALACE       117 

intestines.  My  investigations  discovered  that  a  short 
time  before  the  murder  the  woman  had  eaten  a  cer- 
tain kind  of  food.  From  other  circumstances  learned 
by  me  I  was  convinced  that  one  of  a  certain  number 
of  men  had  slain  her.  I  had  these  men  brought  be- 
fore me  and  caused  the  lodgments  under  their  finger- 
nails to  be  carefully  scraped  and  preserved  in  separate 
packages.  A  scientific  examination  of  the  contents 
of  one  package  disclosed  the  presence  of  human  blood 
corpuscles,  together  with  certain  minute  particles, 
the  chemical  resultants  of  that  particular  food  of 
which  the  woman  had  partaken  shortly  before  her 
death.     In  a  word,  I  had  the  murderer." 

"  Skilful,  decidedly  skilful,"  commented  the  King. 
"  It  is  precisely  for  such  skill  that  we  have  urgent 
need  at  the  present  time." 

"  In  what  direction,  Sire  ?  " 

"  Here  —  at  our  Court.  We  have  decided  to  re- 
tain you  in  our  service  and  we  count  upon  your 
fidelity  and  the  exercise  of  your  uttermost  skill." 

Kearns  bowed.  The  ancestor  of  the  distinguished 
Baron  Gold  and  the  numerous  other  great  men  who 
had  been  wont  to  invoke  his  services  in  the  olden 
time  had  adopted  a  tone  of  supplication  rather  than 
of  patronage.  However,  he  accepted  the  change  as 
part  and  parcel  of  the  new  order  of  things  and  Mr. 
Thomas  Kearns  was  a  man  to  adapt  himself  to  any 
and  all  existing  circumstances. 

"  Listen,  then,"  said  the  King.  "  For  some  time 
past  our  peace  has  been  disturbed  —  nay,  the  safety 
of  our  very  person  threatened  —  from  some  unknown 
source  which  all  the  energy  of  our  Secret  Service 
has  been  unable  to  discover.  We  look  to  you  to  dis- 
cover that  source  —  to  run  to  earth  these  arch-enemies 
of  our  peace  and  safety." 

"  Will  you  furnish  me  with  further  details.  Sire  ?  " 


118        THE  FIEST  AMERICAN  KING 

"  It  was  some  months  ago,"  continued  the  King, 
"  when  we  awoke  one  morning  to  find  a  paper  on 
the  table  beside  our  bed.  It  is  needless  to  recount 
what  this  paper  contained.  Suffice  that  it  held  de- 
mands and  threats.  You  will  realize  the  importance 
of  this  happening,  for  he  who  had  the  power  to 
deposit  that  paper  had  also  the  power  to  have  in- 
flicted more  material  injury." 

Kearns  bowed  his  assent. 

"  Our  sleeping  apartment,"  resumed  the  King,  "  is 
some  fifty  feet  from  the  ground.  There  are  sen- 
tinels on  the  roof  of  the  palace  and  in  the  grounds 
below.  The  sentinels  were  trebled  and  other  pre- 
cautions taken  and  yet  again  this  occurrence  came  to 
pass." 

"  Another  document,"  questioned  Kearns,  "  of  the 
same  character,  deposited  under  the  same  circum- 
stances ?  " 

"  Precisely,' '  said  the  King,  and  a  perceptible  shiv- 
er passed  over  him ;  "  but  yet  stranger  things  were 
to  happen.  Extraordinary  precautions  were  now 
taken.  The  surroundings  of  the  room  were  filled 
with  sentinels,  men  were  posted  in  the  corridors,  an 
officer  of  the  guard  stationed  in  the  antechamber.  At 
our  side  slept  our  faithful  mastiff,  Victor  —  a  noble 
brute,  of  great  sagacity  and  strength.  The  doors 
leading  into  our  apartment  were  sealed  from  the 
inside  by  our  own  hand,  so  that  no  movement  of 
these  doors  could  be  made  without  disturbing  these 
seals.     Were  these  not  precautions  enough  ?  " 

"  The  value  of  a  precaution  is  best  tested  by  its 
efficacy,  Sire,"  replied  Kearns  cautiously. 

"  Then,"  exclaimed  the  King,  "  these  precautions 
were  without  value,  for  one  night,  some  four  weeks 
ago,  there  was  another  visitation." 

"  Indeed,  Sire  ?  " 


A  MYSTEEY  OF  THE  PALACE       119 

"  Our  repose  had  lasted  some  two  hours  when  we 
were  sharply  awakened  by  the  furious  barking  of  the 
dog,  followed  by  his  savage  growls.  His  head  was 
bent  to  the  ground  and  he  savagely  clutched  something 
between  his  teeth.  Nothing  in  the  apartment  was  dis- 
turbed ;  nothing  beyond  the  actions  of  the  animal 
was  to  be  noted;  the  seals  on  the  doors  were  undis- 
turbed. And  yet  —  between  the  teeth  of  the  dog 
was  a  document,  folded  and  tied  together.  It  con- 
tained the  same  demands,  repeated  the  same  threats. 
With  an  apartment  fifty  feet  above  the  ground,  armed 
sentinels  filling  every  avenue,  the  doors  fastened  by 
seals,  how  did  it  get  there  —  how  did  it  get  there !  " 
cried  the  King  with  agitation. 

"  The  possibility  of  a  trap  door  in  floor  or  ceiling, 
or  of  a  secret  entrance  of  any  kind  to  the  chamber 
is  not  to  be  entertained,  of  course  ?  "  asked  Kearns. 

"  Not  for  a  moment !  "  exclaimed  the  King.  "  You 
may  pass  that  by  as  not  needing  further  consideration. 
Eh,  Milord  Ashley  ?  " 

"  Oh,  undoubtedly !  "  answered  the  Master  of  the 
Household.  "  The  apartment  has  been  thoroughly 
examined  from  every  side.  Any  secret  means  of  in- 
gress through  floor,  walls  or  ceiling  is  absolutely 
impossible." 

"  But  there  are  chimneys  —  windows  ?  " 

"  Chimneys,  no,"  replied  Lord  Ashley.  "  We 
warm  to-day  by  electricity  and  there  isn't  a  chimney 
in  the  whole  palace.  As  to  windows,  yes;  there  are 
four." 

"  Were  they  shuttered,  or  screened  ?  " 

"  Screened  ?  "  exclaimed  Lord  Ashley  with  bewil- 
derment.    "  LIow  do  you  mean  —  screened  1 " 

"  Why,"  answered  Kearns,  equally  astonished  at 
this  observation,  "  I  mean,  of  course,  screened  against 
flies* —  mosquitoes." 


120        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

"  Flies  —  mosquitoes !  "  exclaimed  the  King  and 
Lord  Ashley  in  the  same  breath.  Both  gave  a  hearty 
guffaw. 

Kearns  was  visibly  nettled.  This  was,  indeed,  dif- 
ferent from  the  old  days.  He  was  certainly  not  ac- 
customed to  being  laughed  at.  The  last  time  this 
had  occurred  was  when  he  had  been  outwitted  upon 
one  occasion  by  Converse,  the  so-called  King  of  Coun- 
terfeiters —  an  experienced,  clever  and  wily  old 
wrongdoer.  Kearns  never  forgave  that  laugh,  and  it 
was  not  long  until  Converse,  in  spite  of  his  great 
ability,  fell  into  an  especially  clever  net  set  by  Kearns. 
Incidentally,  he  paid  the  penalty  of  that  laugh  with 
a  twenty  years'  sentence.  It  was  not  a  healthy  oc- 
cupation to  laugh  at  Mr.  Kearns  in  those  days. 

Lord  Ashley  noticed  Kearns'  very  evident  cha- 
grin. 

"  No,  no,"  he  hastened  to  explain ;  "  thanks  to  our 
modern  scientists  we  have  no  flies  or  —  ah  —  mos- 
quitoes in  these  days.  They  are  unknown  to-day 
except  as  curiosities  in  the  collection  of  some  scien- 
tist, or  under  the  glass  cases  in  our  museums.  It  is 
quite  natural,"  he  added,  with  a  conciliatory  wave 
of  the  hand,  "  that  you  should  have  —  ah  —  over- 
looked this  fact." 

But  Mr.  Kearns'  chagrin  was  not  to  be  so  easily 
dissipated. 

"  Conditions  have  doubtless  changed,"  he  said 
somewhat  testily,  "  and  I  see  nothing  to  be  gained 
by  any  desultory  examination  of  the  facts.  It  will 
be  necessary  for  me  to  make  a  personal  investigation 
of  the  surroundings  themselves." 

"  Every  facility  shall  be  accorded  you,"  said  the 
King.  "  Quarters  shall  be  assigned  you  in  the  pal- 
ace. Do  you  think,"  he  inquired  anxiously,  "  that 
you  will  succeed  ?  " 


A  MYSTERY  OF  THE  PALACE       121 

"  I'm  not  accustomed  to  failure,  Sire,"  answered 
<Kearns  almost  curtly. 

"  Succeed,  then,"  exclaimed  the  King,  "  and  the 
reward  which  shall  be  yours  shall  be  such  as  to  em- 
phasize the  distinction  between  the  liberality  of  a 
Court  and  the  proverbial  ingratitude  of  Republics." 

Kearns  bowed. 

"  I  can  undertake  to  prosecute  this  investigation 
successfully,"  he  said,  "  under  one  condition  only." 

"  It  is  %  "  asked  the  King. 

"  I've  been  accustomed,  Sire,"  said  Kearns  with 
dignity,  "  to  pursue  certain  methods  peculiarly  my 
own.  Those  methods  I  must  continue  if  I  am  to  be 
successful.  You've  doubtless  had  people  at  work 
on  this  case.  They  must  be  called  off.  In  a  word, 
I  must  not  be  interfered  with.  I  must  have  sole 
and  entire  charge." 

"  But  suppose  you  should  need  assistance  ?  " 

"  Then  I'll  ask  for  it.  Also,  I  reserve  the  right 
to  select  my  assistants." 

Both  the  King  and  Lord  Ashley  seemed  to  hesi- 
tate.    At  last  the  King  spoke. 

"  Those  so  far  employed  have  failed,"  he  said. 
"  It  shall  be  as  you  ask." 

"  Then,  Sire,"  said  Kearns,  "  I've  but  one  other 
request  to  make." 

"  Name  it,"  said  the  King. 

"  That  my  companion,  Professor  Dean,  be  per- 
mitted to  remain." 

"  A  most  natural  desire,"  exclaimed  the  King. 
"  Our  Master  of  the  Household  will  issue  such  orders 
as  will  insure  every  facility  to  you  and  every  com- 
fort to  you  both.  You  will  attend  the  Court  ball 
to-night ;  it  will  afford  you  opportunities  of  observa- 
tion." 


122        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  jKING 

His  Majesty  signified  that  the  audience  was  at  an 
end  and  Mr.  Kearns  withdrew. 

"  Professor,"  said  Kearns,  after  they  had  been 
conducted  to  the  quarters  assigned  them  in  the  pal- 
ace, "  didn't  I  predict  that  there  were  special  reasons 
why  we  should  be  welcomed  here  ?  With  our  serv- 
ices in  demand  and  with  the  freedom  of  the  Imperial 
Palace,  we  don't  seem  to  be  doing  so  badly  for  way- 
farers in  a  strange  land." 

"That's  true,"  said  the  Professor.  "There  is 
some  danger,  then,  threatening  the  King  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

"Serious?" 

"  From  what  I  can  judge  of  the  case  thus  far," 
said  Mr.  Kearns  thoughtfully,  "  I  should  say  yes ! 
Serious  —  quite  serious  ! ' 


CHAPTER  X 


THE  GREAT  COURT  BALL, 


"  I  will  point  out  some  of  the  notables,"  said  Gen- 
eral Mainwarren  to  the  Professor  and  Kearns ;  "  they 
will  no  doubt  interest  you,  especially  such  as  are 
descendants  of  those  known  to  you  in  your  time." 

The  scene  was  the  great  Court  ball,  held  in  the 
magnificent  salons  of  the  Summer  Palace,  ablaze 
with  light  and  beauty.  The  sumptuous  decorations, 
the  masses  of  flowers,  the  resplendent  uniforms,  the 
glittering  crosses  and  orders  upon  the  breasts  of 
many  of  the  men,  the  Court  dresses,  the  blaze  of  jew- 
els—  composed  a  scene  of  the  utmost  brilliancy  and 
splendor. 

And  the  women !  American  women  have  ever 
been  famed  for  their  grace,  their  ineffable  chic  and 
their  beauty,  and  certainly  the  race,  as  viewed  from 
this  ball-room  floor,  seemed  by  no  means  to  have  de- 
clined. Kearns,  who  had  been  a  regular  attendant 
at  the  opera  in  the  old  days,  considered  himself  quite 
a  judge  of  feminine  loveliness.  He  remembered  to 
have  heard  it  urged  by  captious  foreigners  that  the 
American  woman's  weakest  points  were  her  walk  and 
her  voice.  These  defects  seemed  to  have  received 
attention,  for  in  the  noble  bearing  of  the  heads  of 
these  women,  the  graceful  sweep  of  their  walk,  their 
sweet  vocal  intonations,  there  was  no  ground  left  for 
the  most  captious  critic  to  stand  upon.  Decidedly, 
thought  Kearns,  both  the  walk  and  the  voice  had  been 

123 


124        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

cultivated  to  perfection  under  the  regime  of  royalty. 

"  The  notables,"  he  said  in  answer  to  General 
Mainwarren's  words.  "  Ah,  yes !  By  the  way,"  he 
added  with  sudden  animation,  "  could  you  point  out 
to  me  the  —  the  —  distinguished  Baron  Gold." 

"  Baron  Gold  —  Baron  Gold,"  repeated  General 
Mainwarren,  "  let  me  see  if  I  can  discover  him  for 
you." 

He  glanced  about  the  ball-room. 

"  There  he  is !  "  he  exclaimed,  after  a  brief  search. 

Kearns  and  the  Professor  followed  the  direction 
of  the  General's  glance  and  saw  an  old  man,  with 
gray  eyes,  sunken  cheeks  and  high  forehead,  engaged 
in  conversation  with  a  white-moustached  gentleman, 
in  the  uniform  of  the  diplomatic  corps,  who  sat  at 
his  side. 

"  So  that  is  Baron  Gold  ?  "  said  Kearns. 

"  Yes,"  answered  General  Mainwarren,  "  that  is 
Baron  Gold,  one  of  the  great  Trust  magnates  and 
at  one  time  Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer.  His  coun- 
try seat  is  Gorgan  Court  and  his  arms  are  an  eagle 
with  beak  elevated  and  talons  outspread,  and  the 
motto :  '  I  dare  and  I  do.'  That's  correct,  I  believe, 
Colonel  ? " 

"  Quite,"  answered  Colonel   Cuming. 

"  '  I  dare  and  I  do,'  eh  ?  "  said  Kearns  reflectively. 
"  Very  appropriate !  " 

"  Ah,"  exclaimed  General  Mainwarren,  "  see  the 
party  passing  opposite  to  us.  He  with  the  white 
hair,  slightly  in  advance  of  the  rest,  with  the  Star  of 
the  Empire  upon  his  breast,  is  His  Grace,  the  Duke 
of  Marquanna,  Chancellor  of  the  Eealm,  often  styled 
the  American  '  Warwick,'  since  he  lent  such  powerful 
hand  in  the  establishment  and  formation  of  the  Em- 
pire. He  takes  his  title  from  his  beautiful  country 
seat,  bearing  the  family  name  of  Marquanna.     His 


THE  GKEAT  COURT  BALL  125 

•arms  are  a  gerfalcon,  rising  over  an  argent  field,  with 
the  motto :  '  Gold  is  tried  by  Fire,  hut  Men  are  tried 
by  Gold.'  " 

"An  excellent  motto,  too!"  commented  Kearns. 
"  '  Men  are  tried  by  gold ! '  eh  %  Well ;  the  hand- 
some and  able  ancestor  of  this  particular  Duke  could 
certainly  have  left  behind  some  striking  illustrations 
of  that  fact  had  he  been  pleased  to  do  so." 

"  The  Duke,"  continued  General  Mainwarren,  "  is 
growing  somewhat  old  and  infirm  and,  while  he 
yields  not  one  jot  of  his  power  and  authority,  certain 
of  the  more  arduous  routine  duties  of  his  office  of 
Chancellor  he  delegates  to  the  Vice-Chancellor,  Lord 
Ashley,  who  is  there  on  his  left  hand.  You  are 
already  acquainted  with  him." 

"  What  manner  of  man  is  Lord  Ashley  ? "  ques- 
tioned Kearns.     "He  interests  me." 

"Lord  Ashley,  Vice-Chancellor  and  Master  of  the 
Imperial  Household,"  replied  General  Mainwarren, 
"  is  a  soldier  who  earned  a  reputation  for  daring  and 
dash  during  the  early  part  of  the  late  war  with  Rus- 
sia. He  was  severely  wounded  at  the  battle  of 
Pedrofski  and  retired  during  the  rest  of  the  cam- 
paign. His  actual  military  rank  is  Captain  of  the 
Imperial  Guards  —  a  position  which  carries  with  it 
the  brevet  rank  of  Lieutenant-Colonel." 

"  Who  are  these  Guards  ? "  asked  Kearns. 

"  They  are  His  Majesty's  body-guard,  and  consist 
of  three  regiments,"  said  the  General.  "  They  are 
attached  to  the  different  imperial  palaces.  The  men 
are  all  picked  for  their  splendid  physique,  and  the 
uniforms  are  magnificent." 

"  So  I  see,"  assented  Kearns,  his  eyes  still  follow- 
ing the  Duke  of  Marquanna's  party.  "  And  who  are 
the  four  persons  behind  the  Duke  (  " 

"  The  taller  one  of  the  first  two,"  answered  Gen- 


126        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

eral  Mainwarren,  "  is  the  Earl  of  Yandergilt,  one  of 
the  heads  of  the  great  Transportation  Trust,  and  the 
smaller,  stouter  man  at  his  side,  with  the  white  side 
whiskers,  the  rubicund  countenance  and  nose  like  the 
beak  of  the  eagle  is  Sir  Mancey  Carew,  a  great  legal 
light,  raconteur,  and  right-hand  man  of  the  Earl. 
See  how  his  eves  twinkle  and  his  lips  purse;  he  is 
about  to  tell  a  story !  " 

"  And  the  other  two  ?  " 

"  The  nearest  one  to  us,"  answered  General  Main- 
warren, "  is  Sir  Key  point  Horgan ;  the  person  at  his 
side  I  do  not  know.     Do  you,  Colonel  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  replied  Colonel  Criming.  "  He's  a  com- 
parative new-comer  at  the  Court.  He's  an  English- 
man, with  important  financial  interests  here.  Fail- 
ing to  attain  distinction  in  his  native  land,  it  is  said, 
he  decided  to  become  a  naturalized  American  subject. 
The  King  has  recently  created  him  a  Baronet  and 
he  now  rejoices  in  the  title  of  Sir  Walder-Asta." 

"  There  seem  to  be  many  notables  present,*'  re- 
marked Kearns. 

"  Yes,"  replied  General  Mainwarren.  "  The  no- 
bility from  all  parts  of  the  land  are  here.  See  the 
group  over  there  to  our  right.  There  is  Sir  Mar- 
lington  Blackhouse,  the  famous  cotillon  leader,  and 
Lady  Terry  Montbel  and  Lady  Olive  Harrifellow, 
each  noted  as  a  beauty  and  a  sportswoman ;  Sir  Hat- 
meadow-Hatmeadow  Xailer,  Lady  Phillippe  Shield 
and  Lady  Dotter  Dalmer,  all  three  from  the  middle 
country;  Sir  Charles  De  Olde,  from  the  West,  and 
Lady  Jacques  Jardinier,  from  the  city  which,  I  be- 
lieve, you  were  wont  to  term  the  '  Athens  of  Amer- 
ica.' " 

Further  conversation  was  temporarily  interrupted 
by  a  stir,  a  buzz  and  a  general  rising  as  the  King  and 
Queen,  accompanied  by  their  suites,  made  their  en- 


THE  GREAT  COURT  BALL  127 

trance  and  crossed  the  floor  to  a  raised  dais  at  the 
further  end  of  the  ball-room  where  two  magnificently 
draped  throne  chairs  were  reserved  for  them.  The 
band  burst  forth  with  the  National  Anthem,  once 
known  as  "  My  Country,  'Tis  of  Thee,"  now  styled 
"God  Save  the  King."  The  King  and  Queen  took 
their  seats  and  the  ball  was  resumed. 

In  appearance  the  Queen  was  tall  and  slight  of 
figure  almost  to  the  point  of  girlishness,  with  pale, 
regular  features  and  well-poised  head.  The  face  re- 
flected an  amiable  disposition,  joined  to  a  certain 
pride  and  determination,  but  it  suggested  more  of 
sorrow  and  resignation  than  of  contentment  and  hap- 
piness. As  she  sat  under  the  full  light  of  the 
brilliant  ball-room,  her  regal  jewels  a-glitter,  her 
noble  profile  sharply  outlined,  she  looked  graceful, 
beautiful,  every  inch  a  queen,  yet  unhappy. 

The  Professor  and  Kearns  gazed  upon  her  with 
mingled  admiration  and  interest. 

"  The  Queen,"  whispered  the  latter  to  General 
Mainwarren ;  "  what  of  her  ?  " 

"  Is  she  not  gracious  and  beautiful !  "  answered 
the  General  in  lowered  tones.  "  Who  is  she  ?  She 
was,  before  her  marriage  to  the  King,  an  Archduchess 
of  Austria  —  the  youngest  daughter  of  the  Austrian 
monarch." 

"  She  is  popular  and  happy  ?  " 

"  Popular,  yes  —  with  her  sweet  and  gracious 
ways  she  has  crept  into  the  hearts  of  the  people  and 
for  that  reason  is  regarded  by  many  as  one  of  the 
strongest  bulwarks  of  the  throne.  But  happy ;  alas, 
no!" 

"And  why  not?" 

"  Never  did  any  mediaeval  monarch  cling  more 
strongly  to  the  maxim  that  '  The  King  can  do  no 
wrong,'  or  more  fully  demand  the  liberties  and  im- 


128        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

munities  claimed  by  kingcraft,  than  this  King  who 
sits  upon  the  American  throne.  His  profligacy  and 
licentiousness,  his  all  too  many  and  too  flagrant  in- 
trigues, have  deeply  shocked  the  Queen,  who  is 
naturally  possessed  of  strong  religious  and  moral 
sentiments.  There  is  an  estrangement  of  long  stand- 
ing between  them.  They  are  together  only  when 
some  public  function  demands  and  she  maintains  a 
surrounding  of  her  own,  entirely  apart  from  the 
King's,  devoting  her  attention  largely  to  the  educa- 
tion of  the  two  young  princes.  Ah,  there  is  little 
Beatrice !  " 

All  looked  as  General  Mainwarren  spoke  and  saw 
approaching  in  their  direction  Beatrice  Cuming  in 
company  with  four  other  ladies.  The  members  of 
the  party  seated  themselves  a  slight  distance  away. 

"  Who  is  that  beautiful  girl  taking  her  place  beside 
your  daughter  'I "  asked  the  Professor  of  Colonel 
Cuming. 

"  Ah !  "  exclaimed  Kearns  explosively ;  "  so  the 
man  of  science  has  an  eye  for  feminine  beauty,  eh ! 
Look  out,  Professor,  that  in  spite  of  your  hundred 
odd  years,  you  don't  get  enmeshed.  Let  me  see  this 
beauty.  Whew !  But  the  man  is  right.  Beauti- 
ful !  Why,  she's  a  dream  —  a  lovely  dream !  What 
eyes  —  what  teeth  !  " 

'■  Who  is  she?  "  repeated  the  Professor. 

"  That,"  answered  Colonel  Cuming,  "  is  the  lady 
to  whom  you  heard  Beatrice  refer  —  Miss  Dorothy 
Brandon,  a  distant  cousin  of  Beatrice  and  one  of  the 
maids  of  honor  to  Her  Majesty,  the  Queen." 

"  And  are  the  other  three  ladies  also  maids  of 
honor  ?  "  asked  Kearns,  with  a  sly  glance  at  General 
Mainwarren. 

"  Xo,"  answered  the  General,  smiling;  "not  ex- 
actly maids  of  honor,  although  each  holds  position 


THE  GREAT  COUET  BALL  129 

at  the  Court.  The  tall  brunette,  with  the  bold  dark 
eyes,  and  the  tiara  of  diamonds  flashing  above  her 
dark  hair,  is  the  Countess  Brooke,  one  of  the  most 
handsome  women  and,  I  might  perhaps  add,  cred- 
ited with  being  one  of  the  most  dangerous  intrigantes 
of  the  Court.  She  has  a  clever  and  a  dangerous 
tongue  and  is  sometimes  styled  '  the  Babbling 
Brooke,'  after  a  certain  famous  beauty  of  one  of  the 
old-time  English  Courts,  whom  this  lady  in  many 
respects  strongly  resembles.  You  see,  history  re- 
peats itself." 

"  And  the  other  two  ladies  %  " 

"  The  shorter  brunette,  with  the  heavy  dark  brows, 
the  brilliant  red  lips  and  the  big  brown  eyes  is  the 
Baroness  Maquehaye,  a  great  leader  of  fashion  and 
a  wonderful  entertainer.  Her  garden  party  of  last 
Spring  is  still  talked  about.  The  tall,  rather  plump 
blonde  lady,  on  the  other  side  of  the  Countess,  is 
Lady  Hadley-Barton,  famed  for  her  social  ambitions. 
Ah,  I  see  there  is  going  to  be  an  addition  to  the 
party." 

As  the  General  spoke  two  army  officers,  each  clad 
in  the  dashing  uniform  of  the  Imperial  Guard,  ad- 
vanced and  greeted  the  ladies.  One  of  them  was  a 
man  of  magnificent  physique,  tall,  and  lithe,  with 
clear,  flashing  blue  eyes  and  a  sweeping  blond  mous- 
tache ;  the  other  was  shorter,  dark,  with  kindly  brown 
eyes  and  of  sinewy,  well-knit  figure. 

"  A  pair  of  remarkably  clean-cut,  fine-looking 
men,"  commented  Kearns,  "  although  I  have  no  doubt 
that  uniform  helps  matters  along  a  good  deal.  Who 
are  they  ?  " 

"  You  see  in  them,"  answered  General  Mainwar- 
ren,  "  two  of  the  bravest  and  most  dashing  young 
officers  of  the  army.  Both  of  them  performed  deeds 
of  daring  in  the  late  war  with  Russia  which  made 


130       THE  FIEBT  AMERICAN  KING 

their  names  ring  throughout  tbe  country  and  made 
them  the  objects  of  the  usual  popular  idolatry  which 
the  American  people  have  ever  been  wont  to  lavish, 
for  a  short,  time  at  least,  upon  their  heroes.  See  that 
peculiar-shaped  star  which  each  wears  among  the 
decorations  on  his  breast.  It's  the  Star  of  Columbia, 
the  most  coveted  decoration  of  all  the  many  decora- 
tions which  this  Court  boasts.  It's  the  decoration 
which  is  conferred  only  for  special  valor  in  actual 
face  of  the  enemy.  Both  these  men  wear  it  and  both 
have  earned  it.  They've  been  recently  ordered  to 
Court  to  join  the  Imperial  Guard.  Here  they're 
show-pieces.  Shame  to  it  that  gallant  soldiers  should 
not  be  put  to  better  uses !  The  taller  of  the  two  is 
Captain  Stanley  Mortimer ;  the  other,  Captain  Ralph 
Swords." 

The  two  officers  talked  for  some  time  in  lively 
strain  with  the  ladies  of  the  party,  the  brunt  of  the 
conversation  being  borne  by  the  Countess  Brooke,  who 
leveled  several  witching  glances  at  the  tall  guards- 
man. Then  Captain  Mortimer  offered  his  arm  to 
Dorothy  and,  followed  by  Captain  Swords  escorting 
Beatrice,  he  led  the  way  to  the  dancing-floor.  From 
the  orchestra  came  the  opening  strains  of  a  waltz. 

Although  the  dancers  were  already  taking  their 
positions  upon  the  floor,  Beatrice  insisted  upon  stop- 
ping as  they  passed  her  father's  party  and,  following 
her  usual  impetuous  methods,  hurried  general  pres- 
entations ensued.  Miss  Brandon  smiled  upon  the 
Professor  and  murmured  a  few  pleasant  words;  and 
Captain  Mortimer  extended  a  frank,  soldierly  invita- 
tion to  Kearns  to  visit  him  at  his  quarters  next  day. 
Then  the  two  couples  passed  on  to  mingle  a  moment 
later  in  the  maze  of  waltzers. 

More  bewitching  grew  the  sensuous  strains  of  the 
waltz,  faster  and  faster  flew  the  steps  of  the  dancers, 


THE  GREAT  COURT  BALL  131 

as  Captain  Stanley  Mortimer,  holding  Dorothy 
lightly  clasped,  circled  the  floor.  He  had  caught 
her  step  to  a  nicety  and  they  whirled  in  perfect  rhyth- 
mic unison.  Her  breath  was  upon  his  cheek,  a 
loosened  strand  of  her  hair  touched  his  lips,  her  form 
nestled  more  closely  in  his  arms.  As  the  last  bars 
of  the  music  died  away,  her  eyes  met  his  in  one  fleet- 
iug,  upward  glance  —  half  coy,  half  enraptured  — 
and  he  slowly  bent  his  head  in  a  motion  that  was 
almost  a  caress. 

But  as  they  danced,  a  pair  of  black  eyes,  flashing 
under  heavy  dark  brows,  had  watched  with  un- 
friendly glances,  and  the  dainty  lace  handkerchief 
between  the  jeweled  fingers  of  the  Countess  Brooke 
was  defaced  by  two  jagged  rents. 

Captain  Mortimer  led  Dorothy  back  to  her  seat. 

''  The  fourth  waltz  is  to  be  mine  ?  "  he  murmured. 

"  As  you  will,"  she  whispered  back. 


CHAPTER    XL 

IN    THE    GAKDENS    OF    THE    KING. 

"  They  belonged  to  the  Tenth  Dragoons  before 
being"  transferred  to  the  Imperial  Guard  \  "  asked  the 
Baroness  Maquehaye. 

"Yes,"  replied  the  Countess  Brooke,  "  both  Cap- 
tain Mortimer  and  Captain  Swords  belonged  to  the 
Tenth  and  the  Regiment  was  quartered  at  the  Sum- 
mer Palace  at  Oldport.  However,  Lady  Hadley- 
Barton  can  tell  us  more  about  that,  as  she  spent  the 
Summer  at  Oldport.  I  was  there  only  toward  the 
close." 

"  Ah,  yes,"  exclaimed  Lady  Hadley-Barton  ef- 
fusively, "  and  a  delightful  season  we  had,  too !  The 
officers  of  the  Tenth  were  simply  too  lovely.  It  was 
one  succession  of  receptions  and  balls  and  excursions 
and  coaching  parties.  jSTever  had  Oldport  known 
snch  a  gay  season  as  while  the  '  Fighting  Tenth  '  was 
there.  They  entertained  us  day  and  night.  Really, 
they  took  the  place  by  storm  and  we  surrendered  our- 
selves to  them  unconditionally." 

"  Indeed  ?  "  replied  the  Countess  Brooke,  with  the 
suspicion  of  a  sneer  in  the  slightly  upraised  eyebrow 
and  curve  of  the  lip. 

"  Yes,"  continued  Lady  Hadley-Barton,  "  never 
was  there  a  regiment  —  not  even  the  Imperial  Guard 
—  which  contained  so  many  handsome,  dashing  men 
and  such  excellent  entertainers.  As  I  say,  they  cap- 
tured us  completely.  Of  course,  you  will  take  me 
figuratively." 

133 


134        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

"  There  was  some  little  scandal,  though,  toward  the 
close  of  the  season,  if  I  remember  rightly,"  com- 
mented Countess  Brooke. 

"  Scandal  ?  "  questioned  Baroness  Maquehaye. 

"  Yes,"  replied  Countess  Brooke,  "  in  connection 
with  the  high  gaming  in  the  mess-room  of  the  Tenth. 
Several  young  men,  it's  said,  were  completely 
ruined." 

"  Oh,  yes,"  exclaimed  Lady  Hadley-Barton,  "  it's 
true  there  was  some  gossip,  but  what  of  it?  One 
expects  a  little  scandalizing  whenever  a  company  of 
gay  soldiers  is  on  the  ground.  Of  course,  you  will 
take  me  figuratively." 

u  It  doesn't  seem  so  astonishing  to  me,"  remarked 
Baroness  Maquehaye,  "  that  soldiers,  especially  after 
a  long  and  arduous  campaign,  should  go  in  for  heavy 
gaming.  The  risks  and  chances  of  play  must  replace 
with  them  to  some  extent  the  risks  and  chances  of 
war.  What  particular  form  of  play  did  they  in- 
dulge in  ?  " 

"  Baccarat,"  answered  Countess  Brooke,  "  and  the 
bids  for  the  bank,  I  understand,  used  to  run  up  into 
thousands  of  crowns.  There  was  a  bank  bid  in  one 
night  under  certain  peculiar  circumstances  —  circum- 
stances which  will,  no  doubt,  be  long  remembered  by 
the  successful  bidder,  Captain  Mortimer." 

At  the  mention  of  the  name,  Dorothy,  who  had 
been  engaged  in  conversation  with  Beatrice,  slightly 
turned  her  head.  Every  word  that  followed,  in  the 
distinct,  crisp  tones  of  the  Countess,  fell  clearly  upon 
her  listening  ear. 

"  Do  tell  us  the  story,"  exclaimed  Baroness  Maque- 
haye. "It  sounds  as  if  it  were  likely  to  be  inter- 
ring." 

"  Quite  a  romance,  although,  perhaps,  slightly  sor- 
did,"   continued    the    Countess    Brooke    carelessly. 


IN  THE  GARDENS  OF  THE  KING      135 

'"  Well,  it  seems  that  on  a  particular  night  the  play 
was  very  heavy  — ■  unusually  heavy  even  for  the  mess- 
room  of  the  Tenth.  Captain  Mortimer  had  been  a 
fairly  good  winner  during  the  early  part  of  the  season, 
but  later  encountered  a  long  spell  of  ill-luck,  which 
often  sets  in  with  those  who  woo  the  fickle  goddess 
of  chance.  He  had  been  losing  heavily  and  in  the 
strong  play  of  that  night  thought  he  saw  a  chance 
to  recoup.  A  bank  was  put  up  and  under  spirited 
bidding  went  into  the  thousands." 

Here  the  Countess  paused,  with  the  dramatic 
effect  of  a  good  raconteuse. 

"  Your  story  is  quite  interesting,"  exclaimed 
Baroness  Maquehaye.     "  Do  go  on." 

"Oh,  yes;  do,"  added  Lady  Hadley-Barton,  "I 
love  to  hear  of  the  wicked  doings  of  those  soldiers. 
In  fact,  as  I  told  Major  Packenham,  of  the  Tenth, 
the  wickeder  the  soldier  the  more  I  seem  to  worship 
him." 

"  I  trust  he  took  you  —  figuratively,"  remarked 
the  Countess. 

"  Quite  so ;  quite  so,"  Lady  Hadley-Barton  hast- 
ened to  respond. 

ci  Pray  proceed,"  urged  Baroness  Maquehaye. 

"  Well,"  continued  the  Countess  Brooke,  "  the  bank 
which  had  been  bid  up  into  the  thousands  was  finally 
awarded  to  the  highest  bidder  —  Captain  Stanley 
Mortimer." 

Dorothy  Brandon  stirred  slightly  in  her  seat  and 
her  pink-and-white  ear  veered  slightly  around  in  the 
direction  of  the  narrator. 

"  The  Captain  threw  down  on  the  table  the  sum 
representing  the  capital  of  the  bank  and  took  his 
seat  in  the  banker's  chair." 

Again  the  Countess  paused,  as  if  seeking  to  recall 
the  full  details  of  her  story. 


136        THE  FIEST  AMERICAN  KING 

"  Yes,  yes,"  exclaimed  Baroness  Maquehaye,  "  and 
then -?" 

"  I  can  imagine  the  scene,"  declared  Lady  Hadley- 
Barton  impulsively ;  "  the  green  table,  the  stacks 
of  money,  the  high  players.  How  I  wish  I  had  been 
there.  How  much  we  women  miss !  I  have  so  often 
wished  I  wore  trousers.  Of  course,  you  will  take 
me  figuratively." 

"  Captain  Mortimer  took  his  seat  in  the  banker's 
chair,"  resumed  the  Countess,  "  and  as  he  did  so 
he  looked  upon  those  about  him.  '  Gentlemen,'  he 
said,  '  luck  has  been  to  me  lately  a  sorry  jade.  Let's 
see  if  she  will  now  mend  her  ways.  If  she  doesn't 
and  you  succeed  in  breaking  this  bank,  there's  noth- 
ing left  to  me  but  to  surrender  the  freedom  and  the 
joys  of  happy  bachelorhood,  accept  the  offer  which  I 
have  of  a  command  in  the  Imperial  Guard,  go  to 
Court  and  —  marry  an  heiress.  Now,  gentlemen, 
proceed  and  do  your  worst.'  " 

"  How  delightfully  dramatic,"  exclaimed  Lady 
Hadley-Barton. 

"  Well,  and  what  happened  next  ? "  eagerly  in- 
quired Baroness  Maquehaye. 

"  Fortune  favored  the  gallant  Captain  at  one  time 
and  it  looked  as  if  he  might  escape  the  dire  fate  of 
having  to  sell  his  prized  liberty  to  the  God  of  Mam- 
mon, as  represented  in  the  person  of  an  heiress.  But 
the  luck  veered  and  set  in  heavily  against  the  bank. 
The  right  tableau  won  steadily ;  but  the  left  —  the 
one  nearest  the  banker's  heart,  you  will  observe  —  did 
the  mischief.  There  came  a  heavy  coup,  both  tab- 
leaux winning,  and  the  bank  was  broken." 

"  Ah !  "  excalimed  Baroness  Maquehaye  with  tense 
interest. 

"  The  poor  Captain !  "  remarked  Lady  Hadley- 
Barton. 


IN  THE  GARDENS  OF  THE  KING      137 

"  Captain  Mortimer  showed  not  the  least  perturba- 
tion," resumed  Countess  Brooke.  "  He  rose  from 
the  table,  lighted  a  cigar  and,  turning  to  those  about 
him,  said :  '  I  congratulate  you,  gentlemen,  but  that 
settles  it  for  me.  Now  for  the  Court  and  —  the 
heiress !  '  " 

"  I  call  that  an  interesting  story,"  exclaimed  Lady 
Hadley-Barton.     "  Strange  I  hadn't  heard  it  before." 

"  Interesting,  perhaps,  but  decidedly  mercenary," 
commented  Baroness  Maquehaye  with  some  show  of 
disdain. 

"  Mercenary !  "  echoed  Countess  Brooke,  "  surely 
you're  severe.  Call  it  uh  mariage  de  convenance  — 
or  of  necessity,  if  you  will  —  it  sounds  more  pretty  ! 
Isn't  the  Captain  a  decidedly  presentable  man  and 
one  famed  for  his  bravery  in  the  war  ?  Won't  the 
heiress  who  buys  him  with  her  gold  secure  her 
money's  worth  ? " 

A  little  man  —  dapper  and  smiling  —  dressed  in 
the  uniform  of  the  French  diplomatic  corps,  the  red 
ribbon  of  the  Legion  d'lloneur  at  his  buttonhole,  pre- 
sented himself  at  that  moment  before  Dorothy.  To 
his  profound  bow  and  extended  arm  she  returned  a 
dazed  stare.  Her  face  was  strangely  strained  and 
pale.     The  little  man  was  fairly  taken  aback. 

"  You  promised  me  zis  dance,  you  know,  Mees 
Brandon,"  he  stammered.  "  I  am  quite  sure  I  have 
not  made  mistake  as  to  ze  numbaire.     I " 

Mechanically  she  arose,  accepted  the  proferred  arm 
and  went  toward  the  dancing  floor. 

"  You  are  not  indisposed,  I  trust,"  he  inquired 
solicitously. 

"  Count  D'Arville,"  she  exclaimed  impulsively, 
with  a  pressure  ever  so  slight  upon  his  gold-laced 
sleeve,  l"  1  know  how  gallant  are  the  gentlemen  of 


138        THE  FIEST  AMERICAN  KING 

France  and  that  you  are  le  plus  galant  des  galants. 
You'll  do  me  a  favor,  won't  you  ?  " 

The  Count's  face  reddened  in  a  pleasurable  flush. 

"  Ah,  mademoiselle  "  he  exclaimed  excitedly,  and 
almost  losing  command  of  his  limited  stock  of  Eng- 
lish, "  if  I  shall  do  you  a  favor  ?  It  will  give  me 
pleasure,  as  you  know,  to  lay  down  ze  life  for  you. 
I  await  ze  honor  of  your  commands." 

"  Thank  you,  Count,"  said  Dorothy  simply,  her 
blue  eyes  flashing  upon  him  a  grateful  smile,  "  I 
knew  you  would.  I  want  you  to  forego  this  dance. 
You  won't  mind,  will  you  ?  " 

A  look  of  disappointment  came  into  Count  D'Ar- 
ville's  face. 

"  It  is  a  great  deprivation,  mademoiselle,  but  I  am 
your  slave." 

"  Instead,"  continued  Dorothy,  "  you  will  take  me 
to  the  conservatory." 

"  Yes." 

"And  there  you'll  leave  me  alone  —  entirely 
alone  —  for  a  few  moments,  returning  for  me  at  the 
end  of  the  dance. 

"  You  are  ill,  mademoiselle?  " 

"  No,  no;  I  assure  you." 

"  Is  there  nothing  I  can  do  ?  " 

Another  light  pressure  on  the  Count's  resplendent 
sleeve. 

"  Remember,  monsieur  le  comte"  she  said,  "that 
he  who  would  serve  well  must  yield  blindly.  You 
wish  to  serve  well  ?  " 

The  speech  was  accompanied  by  another  adroit 
smile,  before  which  the  Count  retired  utterly 
routed  —  horse,  foot  and  dragoons. 

"  Pa/i^di!  mademoiselle,"  he  answered  with  effu- 
sion, "  to  hear  you  is  for  me  to  obey.  It  shall  be  as 
you  will." 


IN  THE  GARDENS  OF  THE  KING     139 

He  accordingly  conducted  her  to  the  conserva- 
tory —  an  immense  structure  of  great  length  and 
breadth,  resembling  more  a  miniature  park  than  a 
place  ordinarily  designated  under  the  name  of  con- 
servatory. Here  and  there  tropical  trees  and  massive 
plants  stretched  their  foliage  in  wide,  overhanging 
branches ;  there  were  by-paths  and  niches  and  bowers 
in  the  winding  gardens;  and  at  intervals  fountains, 
under  whose  limpid  waters  flashed  golden  fishes, 
gushed  forth  amid  the  violets  and  the  roses.  It  was 
a  dream  of  floral  splendor  —  such  opulence  and  mag- 
nificence as  had  never  been  dreamed  even  by  luxuri- 
ous Eastern  potentates  of  the  olden  days.  It  was 
the  Western  world  saying  to  the  Eastern :  "  You 
bragged  in  the  old  days  of  your  Oriental  sumptuous- 
ness  and  luxury,  but  yours  was  only  a  poor  affair, 
after  all !  See  what  we  can  do,  with  modern  money 
and  modern  methods  !  " 

Into  this  great  garden  of  the  King,  Count 
D'Arville  led  Dorothy.  He  escorted  her  to  a  se- 
cluded spot  under  the  branches  of  a  Taribou  tree  and 
with  numerous  bows  and  protestations  left  her. 

When,  at  the  close  of  the  dance  a  few  minutes  later, 
he  returned  to  her  side,  she  rewarded  him  with  a  gra- 
cious smile. 

"  You've  been  of  great  service  to  me,  monsieur  le 
comte"  she  said.  "  Now,  please  take  me  back.  I 
am  engaged  for  the  next  waltz  —  the  fourth,  you 
know.     Ah,  I  have  one  other  service  to  ask  of  you  !  " 

"  It  is,  mademoiselle1?  " 

"  The  dance  after  that  —  after  the  fourth  waltz,  I 
mean  —  I  have  promised  to  Lord  Ashley.  Will  you 
kindly  tell  Lord  Ashley  that  he  will  find  me  in  the 
conservatory  —  at  this  spot  ?  " 

Count  D'Arville  bowed. 

"  I  will  bear  your  commands  to  Milord  Ashley," 


140        THE  FIKST  AMERICAN  KING 

he  said,  "  but  after  zat  —  later  on  —  may  I  not  have 
my  lost  danee  ?  " 

A  weary  look  came  into  her  face. 

"  After  that  —  after  Lord  Ashley  —  I'll  dance  no 
more  to-night,"  she  said.  "  But,"  she  hastened  to 
add,  "  I'll  make  it  up  to  you.  At  the  ball  next 
week  you  shall  have  two." 

Quite  elated  with  this  promise,  the  gallant  Count 
reluctantly  surrendered  her  to  her  partner  for  the 
fourth  waltz,  Captain  Stanley  Mortimer. 

Again  he  held  her  in  his  arms,  as  he  skilfully 
guided  her  amid  the  whirling  dancers ;  again  he  felt 
her  breath  upon  his  cheek;  again  her  upturned  eyes 
met  his  —  smiling,  ecstatic,  dreamy  —  and  into  their 
depths  he  looked  with  tenderness.  lie  was  vaguely 
conscious  of  her  warm  and  yielding  form  pressed  to 
his ;  of  the  rise  and  fall  of  her  firm,  white  bosom  and 
throat ;  of  a  strange,  rare  perfume,  that  seemed  to 
exhale  from  her  dress,  from  amid  the  glittering  gold 
of  her  hair,  intoxicating  him. 

His  heart  beating  wildly,  his  whole  being  filling, 
thrilling,  with  a  wild  ecstasy  of  hope  and  of  love,  on 
and  on  they  danced  until  the  last  bars  of  the  waltz 
had  been  played  out  and  the  danee  came  to  an  end. 

For  a  moment  they  stood  silent.  Then,  with  a 
murmured  suggestion  as  to  the  warmth  of  the  ball- 
room,  he  led  her  to  the  conservatory.  Slowly  they 
wandered  along  the  winding  paths  until  —  uncon- 
sciously as  it  seemed  —  they  reached  a  secluded  seat 
under  the  outstretched  branches  of  a  wide-leafed 
Taribou  tree. 

For  some  moments  they  sat  there  —  speechless, 
almost  motionless.  A  great  wave  of  emotion  surged 
within  him.  Never  in  the  wildest  charges  into  the 
gray-coated  Russian  ranks,  nor  in  the  bloody  night 
attack  upon  Varshava,  nor  when  he  had  spiked  the 


IN  THE  GARDENS  OF  THE  KING     111 

great  gun  on  the  heights  of  Vladivik,  had  his  heart 
beat  so  wildly.  He  longed  to  speak  and  yet  a  species 
of  dread  —  a  coward  fear  —  overawed  him. 

With  an  effort,  he  drew  himself  together  and  turned 
to  her.  She  raised  her  eyes  to  his.  Then  the  pent- 
up  words  suddenly  rushed  to  his  lips  and  in  a  mad, 
wild  torrent  of  eloquence  and  love  he  poured  forth 
to  her  the  hope  of  his  soul. 

With  his  first  words  her  eyes  sank  and  with 
drooped  head  she  listened,  without  sign  or  move- 
ment, to  the  very  end.  Then,  as  with  hope  and 
doubt  —  doubt  and  hope  —  tearing  at  his  heart,  he 
waited  one  breathless  moment,  she  slowly  rose  to  her 
feet  and  turned  her  eyes  full  upon  his  face.  He 
caught  a  light  in  them  which  brought  him,  staggering, 
to  his  feet.  He  faced  her  with  straining  eyes  and 
features  tense  and  rigid  —  as  a  man  awaiting  his 
death  blow.     As  last  she  spoke : 

"  You  certainly  play  the  part  well,  Captain  Morti- 
mer —  so  well  one  might  almost  believe  it  true. 
Really,  I  congratulate  you." 

"  Play  —  a  part !     What  can  you  mean  ?  " 

"  That  the  Tenth  has  indeed  lost  in  Captain  Morti- 
mer a  great  player,  alike  in  amateur  theatricals  and 
at  —  baccarat." 

A  man  appeared,  the  light  flashing  from  the  decora- 
tions upon  his  breast,  as  he  came  slowly  along  the 
garden  path. 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  "  he  repeated  blankly. 
"I  —  do  —  not  —  understand." 

"  Indeed  ?  Ah !  here  comes  Lord  Ashley.  Pray 
excuse  me.     My  next  dance  is  his." 


CHAPTER   XII. 


A    NIGHT    ALARM- 


"  A  crown  for  your  thoughts,  Professor !  "  said 
General  Mainwarren  to  Professor  Dean,  as  the  lat- 
ter sat  thoughtfully  watching  the  dancers. 

The  Professor  aroused  himself  with  a  slight  start. 

"  Oh,  I  was  allowing  my  thoughts  to  drift  idly  in 
many  currents,"  he  answered. 

"  For  instance,  if  it  is  not  impertinent  to  inquire  ?  " 

"  Well,  I  was  marveling  at  the  beauty,  the  luxury 
and  the  splendor  of  all  this,  and  thinking  what  it 
must  cost  to  keep  up.  The  thought  occurred  to  me 
that  the  cost  of  this  one  ball  "  —  and  the  Professor 
shot  a  sharp  glance  at  General  Mainwarren  — 
"  would  probably  be  sufficient  to  keep  warm  all  the 
poor  people  in  your  district  who  are  likely  to  suffer, 
according  to  what  you  told  us,  for  coal  this  Winter, 
in  addition  to  supplying  every  poor  child  with  a 
Christmas  box." 

"  A  Christmas  box !  "  exclaimed  General  Main- 
warren. "  What  a  quaint  reminiscence  wafted  to  us 
from  the  past !  " 

"  How  do  you  mean  —  '  a  quaint  reminiscence  '  ?  " 

"  Why,  my  dear  Professor,  Christmas  boxes  are 
with  us  as  much  a  thing  of  the  past  as  the  curfew 
bell,  knights  in  armor,  or  any  of  the  other  customs  of 
mediaeval  times." 

"  How  came  this  kindly  practice  to  be  abolished  \  " 
asked  the  Professor  blankly. 

143 


144        THE  FIKST  AMERICAN  KING 

"  Kindly  !  "  repeated  General  Mainwarren.  "  I 
can't  agree  with  you.  The  custom  was  discontinued 
long  ago  by  the  wealthier  classes  and  the  rest  of  the 
people  gradually  followed.  It  was  one  of  the  few 
good  acts  which  the  rich  have  done  for  the  poor ;  one 
of  the  many  features  in  which  our  social  organiza- 
tion of  to-day  excels  yours." 

"  But  what  leads  you  to  this  view  ?  " 

"Why,"  explained  General  Mainwarren,  "your 
giving  of  Christmas  presents  was  nothing  less  than 
the  refinement  of  cruelty  upon  a  colossal  scale. 
Think  of  the  tens  of  thousands  of  heart  yearnings 
and  of  heart  aches  which  must  have  been  caused  in 
your  day  owing  to  this  custom.  It  was  all  very  nice 
fur  the  well-to-do,  but  think  of  the  tens  of  thousands 
who  felt  forced  to  give  what  they  couldn't  afford;  of 
those  who  wished  to  give  but  could  not;  of  those  — 
especially  little  children  —  who  hoped  to  receive  and 
were  disappointed.  Think  of  the  destitute  father 
looking  upon  his  children  as  they  wistfully  watched 
the  toys  and  presents  received  by  more  fortunate 
playfellows.  What  were  the  feelings  in  that  parent's 
heart,  what  the  feelings  of  the  child's?  Ah!  your 
Christmas  was  a  cruel  time  and  your  custom  a  cruel 
one." 

k"  Viewed  in  that  light,"  answered  Professor  Dean 
gravely,  "  I  will  admit  there  are  grounds  for  your 
criticism.  You  say  there  are  other  features  of  im- 
provement.    Tell  me  of  them.     I'm  interested." 

"  The  subject  is  rather  too  extensive  to  go  into  at 
the  present  time,"  answered  General  Mainwarren, 
"  but  I'll  mention  one  or  two  instances  which  happen 
to  come  to  my  mind  at  the  moment.  Take  our  news- 
papers, for  example.  We  don't  allow  our  newspapers 
to  promote  national  blindness  as  in  your  day.  The 
smallest  size  of  type  which   may  be  used,   as   also 


A  NIGHT  ALARM  145 

numerous  other  details  as  to  the  printing  of  a  news- 
paper, are  carefully  regulated  by  law  in  the  interests 
of  the  public  eyesight." 

"  Not  at  all  a  bad  idea  !  "  commented  the  Professor. 

"  Then,  again,  take  our  attitude  toward  drunken- 
ness. We  have  recognized  that  what  drove  men  to 
frenzy  in  drink  and  largely  promoted  drunkenness 
was  not  so  much  the  liquor  itself  as  the  adulterations 
in  *he  liquor.  Our  methods  of  inspection  of  all 
liquors  publicly  sold,  as  also  of  the  public  food  supply, 
are  very  elaborate,  and  our  laws  on  the  subject  of 
adulteration  are  extremely  stringent.  In  this  respect, 
I  am  glad  to  say,  our  people  are  immeasurably  better 
off  than  were  the  people  of  your  day." 

"  You  speak  in  a  kindly  way  of  the  people  and 
seem  to  have  their  welfare  at  heart,"  ventured  the 
Professor.  "  This  being  so,  I  am  astonished  that  you 
don't  reverse  your  policy." 

"  My  policy ?  " 

"  As  to  the  restriction  of  the  coal  supply." 

General  Mainwarren  started  slightly. 

"  I  must  ask  you  to  excuse  me  from  discussing 
that,"  he  answered,  somewhat  stiffly. 

"  Very  well,"  said  the  Professor,  slightly  nettled, 
"  but  there  is  one  other  point  upon  which  I  think  I 
have  a  right  to  receive  your  answer.  It  is  this: 
Under  Colonel  Cuming's  roof,  you  will  remember, 
you  somewhat  bitterly  arraigned  the  men  of  my  day." 

"Yes;  I  remember  perfectly,"  replied  General 
Mainwarren.  "  Conceding  that  the  mass  of  people 
have  certain  rights,  I  claimed  that  the  responsibility 
for  present  conditions  lies  with  the  people  of  your 
day,  because  they  did  not  check  the  tendency  of 
events  in  their  incipiency.  Of  course,"  he  added  cau- 
tiously, "  I  haven't  accepted  as  correct  your  views  as 
to  these  rights.     It  was  purely  an  academic  discus- 


146        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

sion  and  I  conceded  your  point  simply  for  the  sake  of 
argument." 

"  I  understand  the  point  you  make,"  rejoined  the 
Professor.  "  I  was  taken  somewhat  unawares  at  the 
time,  but  the  matter  has  been  rankling  in  my  mind 
since.  May  I  ask  what  were  the  methods  which  you 
later  critics  think  we  might  have  adopted  to  this 
end?" 

"  My  dear  Professor,"  protested  General  Ma  in  war- 
ren, "  that's  a  subject  which  to  treat  fully  would  call 
for  most  extended  discussion.  Suffice  it  to  say,  that 
in  those  days  the  people  had  the  free  exercise  of  the 
ballot  and  with  their  votes  they  could  have  done  pretty 
well  what  they  pleased." 

"  Ah,  you  really  think  so !  "  exclaimed  the  Pro- 
fessor with  some  sarcasm.  "  You  forget  our  great 
political  machines,  and  that  they  practically  con- 
trolled affairs;  substantially,  even  if  covertly,  direct- 
ing the  so-called  will  of  the  people  !  " 

"  I'm  fully  aware  of  that,"  answered  General  Main- 
warren,  "  but  the  man  who  stands  idly  beneath  a  tree, 
with  open  mouth,  awaiting  the  fruit  to  drop,  is  apt  to 
go  away  disappointed.  What  was  needed  was  a  slow, 
steady,  methodical  education  of  the  people,  which 
would  have  placed  them  upon  a  higher  plane.  With 
eyes  fully  opened  to  the  situation,  they  would  have 
been  superior  to  the  two  great  political  machines. 
There  seems  to  have  been  no  steady,  earnest,  well- 
directed  effort  to  accomplish  this  —  no  one  to  under- 
take it!  " 

"  How  might  this  have  been  done  ?  "  questioned  the 
Professor. 

"  Oh,  in  various  ways." 

"  Tell  me  one  ?  " 

"  Since  you  insist,  my  dear  Professor,"  answered 
the  General,  "  I'll  point  out  one  way  which  has  been 


A  NIGHT  ALARM  147 

suggested  and  which  I  had  the  pleasure  of  discussing 
some  time  ago  with  one  of  our  most  eminent  sociolo- 
gists, Doctor  Arthur  Melbourne." 

"  I'm  all  interest ! "  exclaimed  the  Professor. 
"  That  wav  was  ?  " 

"  You  have  intimated,"  continued  General  Main- 
wrarren,  "  that  the  political  machines  held  the  voters 
so  securely  that  the  power  of  these  professional  poli- 
ticians could  not  be  overthrown  by  any  opposition 
which  was  started  against  them.  You  have  not  said, 
but  I  know  it,  that  such  desultory  opposition  as  was 
tried  from  time  to  time  always  met  with  discourage- 
ment and  defeat.  ISTor  have  you  pointed  out  that  the 
leaders  who  controlled  these  two  great  political  ma- 
chines were  themselves  controlled  by  the  moneyed 
powers  of  the  land,  who  stood  in  the  background  and 
pulled  the  strings  which  moved  the  puppets.  This  — 
all  this  —  is  well  realized  and  understood  by  the 
student  of  to-day." 

"  Let  us  concede  these  facts,"  rejoined  the  Pro- 
fessor ;  "  but  what  then  ?  " 

"  It  has  been  suggested,"  continued  General  Main- 
warren,  "  that  a  wise  course  for  patriotic  leaders  of 
your  day  would  have  been  to  have  abandoned  the 
hope  of  converting  and  securing  the  grown  voters  as 
a  body.  It  would  have  been  best  for  them,  at  a  given 
time,  to  have  said :  '  Beginning  from  to-day,  we  will 
pay  no  attention  to  any  male  who  is  more  than  fifteen 
years  of  age  and  who  is  now,  or  within  the  next 
six  years  will  be,  entitled  to  a  vote.  But  we  will 
direct  all  efforts  to  an  entirely  new  body  of  suffrag- 
ists.' They  should  then  have  turned  their  attention 
to  the  women  of  the  land,  to  the  mothers  of  future 
generations  of  voters.  It  has  been  said  that  '  Every 
woman  is  at  heart  a  royalist ! '  It  could  with  equal 
truth  be  said,  *  Every  woman  is  by  nature  a  politi- 


148       THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

cian.'  It  is  true  that  women,  as  a  body,  appear  to 
devote  little  interest  to  politics,  but  this  is  because  few 
women  have  been  given  opportunity  of  acquiring  any 
knowledge  on  the  subject,  or  of  taking  active  part  in 
suck  matters.  But  whenever  woman  has  had  such 
opportunity,  she  has  shown  herself  to  be  an  ardent 
politician.  Look  at  the  influence  exerted  politically 
by  various  women  of  whom  history  speaks.  Take  it 
even  in  your  own  day.  Whenever  there  happened  to 
be  some  movement  —  say  a  moral  reform  move- 
ment —  in  which  the  women  of  the  country  took  an 
active  interest,  as  they  did  now  and  again,  did  it 
not  invariably  happen  that  that  movement  was  suc- 
cessful at  the  polls  ?  " 

The  Professor  reflected  a  moment. 

"  Yes,"  he  answered ;  "  the  facts  show  that  you  are 
correct  as  to  this." 

"  There,  then,"  continued  General  Mainwarren, 
"  lay  the  hope  and  the  chance  of  your  patriotic 
leaders.  They  should  have  started  missionary  work 
upon  a  comprehensive  scale  among  the  women  of  the 
land.  They  should  have  educated  womankind  polit- 
ically —  have  indicated  to  woman  where  and  why  the 
shoe  pinched  and  what  was  the  remedy.  She  should 
have  been  shown  that  the-  remedy  lay  in  the  genera- 
tions of  voters  to  come  and  that  those  generations 
were  directly  under  her  influence  and  in  her  keep- 
ing." 

"  I  begin  to  see  your  drift,"  said  the  Professor 
thoughtfully. 

"  Meetings  should  have  been  held  for  the  instruc- 
tion of  women ;  political  clubs  maintained ;  and  litera- 
ture circulated  for  them  which  was  sufficiently  light, 
clear  and  instructive.  'Do  you  want  your  sons  to 
struggle  on  under  the  same  blighting,  toilsome  condi- 
tions as  their  fathers  struggled  \ '  should  have  been 


A  NIGHT  ALARM  149 

the  watchword,  and  it  would  have  been  a  watchword  to 
which  the  maternal  heart  would  eagerly  have  re- 
sponded. The  women  would  have  educated  their 
children  —  not  merely  the  boys  but  also  the  girls 
who  were  to  become  the  wives  of  future  voters  —  and 
within  a  very  few  years  you  would  have  had  a  new 
generation  of  voters  sufficiently  powerful  and  suf- 
ficiently well-instructed  to  have  bid  the  old  political 
machines  open  and  successful  defiance.  With  the 
women  of  the  land  lay  one  of  your  great  chances,  but 
that  chance  you  utterly  neglected." 

The  Professor  was  about  to  reply  when  the  voice 
of  Kearns,  who  had  been  in  conversation  with  Colonel 
Cuming,  broke  in  upon  them : 

"  Excuse  me,  Professor,"  he  exclaimed,  "  but  I  see 
their  Majesties  have  long  since  retired  and  the  ball- 
room is  beginning  to  thin  out  somewhat.  Isn't  it 
time  we  went  ?  No  doubt  all  this  life  and  go  and 
all  these  beautiful  ladies  are  very  interesting  to  you  — 
in  spite  of  your  hundred  years  —  but  you  must  re- 
member that  I  have  work  before  me  to-morrow.  I'm 
no  longer  a  gentleman  of  leisure,  you  know." 

Before  the  Professor  could  reply,  Colonel  Cuming 
again  addressed  Kearns,  directing  his  attention  to 
some  personage  in  the  ball-room,  and  the  Professor 
turned  to  General  Mainwarren. 

"  No  longer  a  gentlemen  of  leisure,"  he  said,  rather 
sadly ;  "  that,  too,  was  one  of  the  subjects  in  my 
mind.  I  was  thinking  what  I  should  turn  to  —  what 
place  I  could  find,  if  any  —  in  this  new  world  into 
which  I  have  tumbled.  Our  friend,  Kearns,  has 
been  fortunate  in  finding  his  old-time  cunning  in 
demand,  even  at  the  hands  of  kings.  But  I  wonder 
if  I  can  in  these  days  profitably  resume  my  former 
researches  and  work.     Would  there  be  any  demand 


150        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

for  the  various  inventions  I  have  in  mind  —  my  air- 
ship, for  instance  ?  " 

General  Mainwarring  started  perceptibly. 

"  Professor  Dean,"  he  said  gravely,  "  I  have  had  a 
high  regard  for  you  from  the  moment  of  our  first  meet- 
ing. In  fact,  long  before  that  your  name  was  known 
to  me  and  your  attainments  in  the  domain  of  science 
held  my  respect.  Ah,  Professor,  you  have  probably 
done  for  the  world  more  than  you  know !  " 

"  Come,  come,  General !  "  exclaimed  the  Professor, 
*"  this  is  sheer  flattery.  You  are  amusing  yourself 
at  my  expense,  I  fear.  I  hardly  expected  this  of 
you.'' 

"  I  speak  only  the  truth !  "  said  the  General 
s<  ilemnly. 

"  We  will  let  that  pass,"  replied  the  Professor 
somewhat  testily.  "You  have  not  yet  answered  my 
question.  Do  you  think  the  invention  I  have  men- 
tioned would  find  any  market  in  these  days?  " 

"  I  was  coming  to  that  point,"  answered  General 
Mainwarren.  "  I  see  no  reason  why  your  —  your  — 
invention  when  completed  should  not  yield  beneficial 
results." 

"  Completed !  "  replied  the  Professor,  "  as  far  as 
that  is  concerned,  it  is  substantially  completed." 

"  Perfected !  "  exclaimed  General  Mainwarren, 
-with  an  air  of  astonishment. 

"  Yes,"  replied  the  Professor. 

"  You  could  in  —  in  —  a  comparatively  short 
time,"  resumed  General  Mainwarren,  "  turn  out  a 
practical  airship !     Do  you  mean  this  %  " 

"  Absolutely,"  replied  the  Professor  confidently. 

General  Mainwarren  reflected  for  some  moments. 

"  Professor  Dean,"  he  said  presently,  "  I'll  make 
you  a  proposition.  Under  these  new  conditions  you 
need  some  one  to  guide  your  efforts  and  to  properly 


A  KIGI1T  ALAEM  151 

market  the  product  of  your  brain.  I  invite  you  to 
come  with,  me  to  Pennsylvania,  and  pursue  your 
researches  and  your  work.  It  will  be  a  mutual  enter- 
prise. As  for  the  terms,  there  will  be  no  difference 
between  us  as  to  that;  they  shall  be  of  your  own 
making." 

"  You  mean  this  ? "  exclaimed  the  Professor  in 
astonishment. 

"  Positively,"  answered  General  Mainwarren  firm- 
ly ;  "  I  make  you  this  as  an  offer.  You  are  to  pursue 
your  researches  and  your  work  at  your  leisure  and  I 
am  to  supply  such  funds,  or  other  promotive  assist- 
ance, as  may  be  needed.  The  benefits  accruing  we'll 
share  jointly,  upon  such  terms  as  you  yourself  shall 
dictate.  It's  a  simple  business  proposition.  Do  you 
accept  ?  " 

"  The  conditions  are  certainly  most  liberal !  "  ex- 
claimed the  Professor.     "  I " 

"  Why,  then,  do  you  hesitate  ?  " 

"  May  I  ask  when  this  offer  is  to  go  into  effect  ?  " 

"  Immediately." 

"  Ah,  exclaimed  the  Professor  deprecatingly,  "  I 
don't  want  to  leave  my  friend  Kearns  so  suddenly.  I 
must  ask  for  some  time  in  which  to  reach  a  decision." 

"  By  all  means,"  answered  General  Mainwarren, 
"  but  I  ask  it  as  a  condition  that  you  will  not  enter 
into  any  negotiation  or  discussion  on  this  subject  with 
outsiders  until  you  have  given  me  an  answer.  In  a 
word,  you  are  to  treat  this  proposition  as  entirely 
confidential  between  us.  Have  I  vour  word  for 
this  %  " 

The  words  had  scarcely  left  General  Mainwarren's 
lips  and  before  the  Professor  could  make  reply,  there 
came  from  the  grounds  outside  the  palace  the  sharp 
blast  of  a  bugle,  hoarse  shouts  of  command  and  the 
sounds  of  moving  men.     In  an  instant  the  scene  in 


152        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

the  hall-room  changed  from  one  of  gaycty  and  frivol- 
ity to  earnestness,  joined  to  some  confusion.  Mili- 
tary officers  quitted  their  partners  and  hurried  forth, 
while  the  beautifully  gowned  women  looked  into  one 
another's  faces  with  questioning  glances.  The  diplo- 
mats gathered  in  little  groups,  exchanging  whispers. 
A  current  of  unrest,  of  uneasiness,  had  suddenly 
swept  over  the  brilliant  scene  —  a  general  presenti- 
ment that  something  momentous  had  happened. 

Again  the  bugles  pealed  forth,  with  a  roll  of  drums 
in  the  distance.  Still  the  guests  sat,  or  stood,  looking 
askance  into  one  another's  faces.     The  music  stopped. 

Uneasy  lies  the  head  that  wears  a  crown.  Tt 
seemed  as  if  the  familiar  words  might  be  paraphrased  : 
"  Uneasy  are  those  who  live  within  the  shadow  of  a 
throne." 

A  messenger  entered  the  ball-room  and,  glancing 
about  him,  made  his  way  to  where  Kearns  sat.  There 
was  agitation  in  his  manner  and  his  words  came  sharp 
and  terse : 

"  You  are  commanded,  sir,  to  repair  at  once  to  His 
Majesty's  chamber." 


CHAPTEE  XIII 

HOW  CAME  THIS  TO  PASS 

Out  of  the  ball-room  the  messenger  rapidly  led  the 
way.  They  were  whisked  up  on  an  electric  elevator ; 
and  along  a  passage,  lined  with  sentinels,  they  hur- 
ried until  they  reached  the  private  apartments  of  the 
King. 

In  the  first,  or  outer,  chamber  were  gathered  sev- 
eral officers,  talking  together  eagerly.  They  passed 
through  the  chamber  to  a  door  at  the  further  end, 
where  they  were  stopped  by  a  Captain  of  the  Guards, 
who  was  evidently  the  officer  on  duty.  At  a  whis- 
pered word  from  the  messenger,  the  officer  moved 
aside.  The  messenger  opened  the  door  and,  stepping 
back,  motioned  Kearns  to  pass  in  alone  to  the  sleep- 
ing-apartment of  the  King. 

Kearns  instantly  took  in  the  details  of  the  scene 
which  presented  itself  as  the  door  closed  behind 
him  —  a  spacious  and  brilliantly  lighted  apartment, 
with  a  rather  small  alcove  in  which  was  set  the  royal 
couch.  Two  persons  were  in  the  apartment  —  the 
King,  seated  on  the  side  of  the  couch,  his  face  pale 
and  troubled,  holding  a  paper  in  his  hand  ;  and,  stand- 
ing beside  him,  Lord  Ashley,  looking  very  grave. 

Lying  in  disorder  at  the  King's  feet  was  a  large 
coverlid  of  gayly  colored  silk,  which  appeared  to  have 
been  thrown  or  dropped  on  the  floor  in  the  confusion. 

The  King  motioned  to  Kearns  to  approach. 
Kearns  advanced  and  bowed. 

"  See !  "  said  the  King. 
153 


154        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KIXG 

He  motioned  to  Lord  Ashley,  who  raised  the  silken 
coverlid.  Kearns  bent  eagerly  forward  and,  despite 
the  royal  presence,  a  sharp,  low  whistle  of  astonish- 
ment escaped  him. 

Stretched  at  full  length  upon  the  floor,  his  limbs 
rigid  in  death,  the  thick  blood  oozing  from  nostrils 
and  mouth,  lay  the  King's  great  mastiff,  with  a  bullet 
through  his  heart. 

Kearns  stood  gazing  intently  at  the  corpse ;  then 
raised  his  eyes  to  glance  about  him  for  possible  clews 
as  to  the  quarter  whence  death  had  been  dealt.  But 
the  King  again  drew  his  attention. 

"Read!  "  he  said,  extending  to  Kearns  the  scroll 
he  held  in  his  hand. 

Kearns  took  the  paper,  which  was  thick  and  heavy 
and  was  rolled  in  the  form  of  a  cylinder.  Unfold- 
ing it  he  read : 

The  bullet  which  pierces  your  dog's  heart  might 
as  readily  hare  reached  yours.  Heed  the  warnings 
given  while  it  is  yet  time.     The  hour  fast  approaches. 

Kearns  slowly  read  the  document,  refolded  it  care- 
fully and,  still  holding  it  in  his  hand,  addressed  the 
King. 

"  I'd  like  to  keep  this,"  he  said,  "  for  further  ex- 
amination.    I  can't  tell  but  it  may  contain  a  clew." 

"  As  you  will,"  answered  the  King  abstractedly. 
"  You  note  what  is  said :  As  the  bullet  pierced  the 
dog's  heart,  so  might  it  have  pierced  ours.  And  it's 
true,"  he  added  with  a  shudder,  "  horribly  true !  As 
the  late  Czar  of  Russia,  Zoldau  the  First,  foully  per- 
ished, so " 

Lord  Ashley  hastily  interrupted. 

"  You  forget,  Sire,"  he  exclaimed,  "  that  while  it's 
true  His  Majesty,  the  late  Czar,  Zoldau  the  First, 
died  suddenly  while  asleep,  yet  it  was  officially  certi- 
fied to  by  the  Court  physicians  that  he  died  of  acute 
indigestion  superinduced  by " 


HOW  CAME  THIS  TO  PASS!  155 

"  A  dagger,  driven  through  his  heart  while  he 
slept,"  interposed  the  King.  "  Yes,"  he  added  -with 
ghastly  irony,  "  such  things  usually  are  acutely  indi- 
gestible." 

"  Sire,"  said  Lord  Ashley,  "  there  are  certain  State 
secrets  which  His  Grace,  the  Lord  Chancellor,  would, 
I  know,  highly  disapprove  being  disclosed.  It  is- 
not  well  that  such  rumors " 

"  Rumors !  "  exclaimed  the  King  with  violence, 
"  think  you,  Milord,  that  these  things  are  safely  locked 
within  the  walls  of  the  Chancellery !  Think  you  that 
such  secrets  are  securely  hidden  ?  that  they  are  not 
whispered  about  among  the  people  %  Ah,  don't  de- 
ceive yourself.  But  what  care  we  as  to  this !  All 
the  efforts  of  our  officers,  our  soldiers,  our  Secret  Serv- 
ice have  failed  to  protect  us  from  these  visitations. 
We  would  that  he,"  and  he  turned  to  Kearns,  "  should 
know  all  that  he  may  fully  grasp  the  necessities  of  the 
situation  and  measure  the  danger." 

Lord  Ashley  bowed  a  respectful  acquiescence. 

"  It's  horrible  —  horrible !  "  continued  the  King 
with  nervous  energy.  "  It's  easy  enough  to  face 
death  in  a  charge  against  the  enemy  as  you  soldiers 
face  it,  but  to  wait  and  watch  day  after  day,  day 
after  day,  never  knowing  from  what  quarter  death 
may  be  creeping  upon  you  from  some  lurking  assas- 
sin —  ah,  that's  different.  It's  horrible  —  hor- 
rible!" 

Kearns  looked  upon  the  King  and  a  feeling  akin 
to  pity  came  into  his  heart.  In  the  course  of  his 
varied  career,  he  had  seen  men  in  a  similar  predica- 
ment and  he  well  knew  that  this  constant  fear  of 
attack  from  some  mysterious  and  unknown  quarter 
was  a  situation  such  as  to  wring  the  stoutest  heart. 

The  King  drew  himself  together  with  a  strong 
effort.  • 


156      THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

'•  Whence  came  this  shot?"  he  asked  again  turn- 
ing to  Kearns. 

Kearns  glanced  about  him.  There  were  four  win- 
dows to  the  apartment;  two  of  these  were  closed;  the 
others  were  open.  All  four  windows  were  securely 
shaded  with  heavy  blinds.  Kearns  crossed  over  and 
carefully  examined  each  window-casing  and  shade. 

"  Was  it  through  a  window  ?  "  continued  the  King. 

"  Possibly,  Sire,"  answered  Kearns. 

"  You  say  possibly,"  exclaimed  the  King,  somewhat 
petulantly,  "yet  how  is  it  possible?  On  the  ground 
directly  beneath  those  windows  are  two  sentinels; 
on  the  roof  directly  above  are  two  other  sentinels. 
The  trees  of  the  park  are  many  feet  away  and  from 
them  no  shot  could  be  fired  which  could  possibly 
strike  at  the  angle  this  shot  struck.  Besides,  you 
see  the  shades  are  undisturbed;  no  bullet  has  passed 
through  them.     How  do  you  account  for  all  this?  " 

"  I'll  know  far  more  by  this  time  to-morrow,  Sire," 
answered  Kearns  calmly,  "after  I've  concluded  my 
investigations.  In  the  meantime,  I  ask  that  nothing 
here  be  disturbed." 

"  And  you  will  speak  then  to-morrow?  "  exclaimed 
the  King  eagerly. 

"  It  was  agreed,  Sire,"  said  Kearns,  with  dignity, 
"  in  order  to  ensure  my  usual  success,  that  I  should 
be  permitted  to  pursue  my  usual  methods.  I'll  speak, 
Sire,  at  my  usual  time." 

"  Speak  at  your  usual  time !  "  repeated  the  King, 
apparently  somewhat  bewildered.  "And  when  is 
that \  " 

Kearns  touched  the  foot  of  the  prostrate  dog  lightly 
with  his  own. 

"  When,"  he  answered  with  cold  determination, 
"  when  I  hold  the  assassins  within  my  net  —  securely 
within  my  grasp !  " 


CHAPTER   XIV 

THE    COUNTERPLOT 

"  Tell  me,  Professor,"  said  Kearns  to  Dean  at 
fourteen  o'clock  on  the  following  day,  "  I've  reason 
to  believe  I'll  need  you  badly  in  clearing  up  matters 
here.     Will  you  help  me  ?  " 

"  I'm  a  little  hurt  at  the  question,"  replied  the 
Professor.  "  I  should  have  hoped  you  would  have 
taken  the  answer  as  a  matter  of  course.  How  long 
will  you  need  me  ?  I'm  at  your  service  regardless  of 
the  length  of  time;  but  I  ask  because  the  last  thing 
General  Mainwarren  did  before  leaving  for  Pennsyl- 
vania this  morning  was  to  request  me  to  communi- 
cate with  him  speedily  regarding  the  offer  which  he 
made  me." 

"  How  long  shall  I  need  you  ? "  repeated  Kearns 
reflectively.  "  I  can't  say.  That  depends,  I  imag- 
ine, largely  upon  you." 

"  Very  well,"  answered  Professor  Dean,  "  General 
Mainwarren  will  have  to  wait.  Suppose  you  begin 
by  telling  me  how  I  can  be  of  use  to  you." 

"  I  have  already  explained  to  you  the  nature  of  the 
case,"  said  Kearns.  "  I  had  another  interview  with 
His  Nibs  —  that  is  —  ah —  His  Majesty,  I  mean  — 
this  morning,  but  it  did  not  result  in  my  ascertain- 
ing anything  of  value  beyond  that  which  I  already 
knew." 

"  Indeed !  "  commented  the  Professor. 

"  No.  It  seems,"  continued  Kearns,  "  that  after 
returning  from  the  ball,  the  King  immediately  dis- 

157 


158        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KIXG 

robed,  retired,  and  was  soon  sound  asleep.  He  was 
awakened  by  a  sharp  bark  from  the  dog  and  sprang 
up  just  in  time  to  see  the  animal  fall  in  its  death 
agony.  At  the  same  moment  he  noticed  the  flutter 
of  the  white  paper  on  the  floor." 

"  Was  there  no  sound  of  a  shot  —  no  smoke  ? " 
asked  the  Professor. 

"  'No,"  answered  Kearns,  "  but  there's  nothing 
wonderful  in  that,  because  I've  found  that  to-day 
there  exists  not  only  a  smokeless  powder,  but  also 
one  that's  noiseless.  Moreover,  they  have  powerful 
compressed-air  guns  from  which  such  a  shot  could 
have  been  noiselessly  fired." 

"  Quite  so,"  assented  the  Professor.  "  And  what 
is  your  theory  as  to  how  that  paper  came  there  ?  " 

"  Gently,  Professor,"  exclaimed  Kearns.  "  Let's 
take  up  matters  in  their  regular  order.  We'll  put 
off  the  discussion  of  that  point  for  the  moment.  I've 
told  you  what  the  paper  contained.  It  was  simply  a 
warning,  accompanied  by  the  threat  that  the  next 
warning  received  would  be  the  last.  It  was  a  brief 
document  compared  to  others  the  King  has  received." 

"  Indeed!" 

"  Yes;  the  visit  of  last  night  was  the  fourth.  Up- 
on the  first  occasion,  the  King  found  beside  his  couch 
a  lengthy  document  embodying  demands  and  threats." 

"  And  what  was  the  nature  of  these  demands  ?  " 

"  Oh,  they  were  quite  lengthy  and  detailed,"  an- 
swered Kearns,  "  and  were  in  the  nature  of  demands 
that  he  should  bring  about  certain  industrial  and 
economic  changes,  after  which  he  was  to  abdicate 
and  restore  the  country  to  a  Republic,  with  either 
a  President  elected  for  a  term  of  years,  or  at  most  a 
life  President.  Failing  to  comply  with  these  de- 
mands, he  was  threatened  with  death  as  a  usurper 
and  an  enemy  of  the  people." 


THE  COUXTERPLOT  159 

"  From  whom  is  this  document  supposed  to  have 
emanated  ?  "  asked  Professor  Dean. 

"  To  find  that  out,"  answered  Kearns,  "  is  the 
very  mission  upon  which  I  am  employed.  I've 
learned  that  there  exists,  as  might  be  expected,  a 
strong  body  among  the  people  who  are  opposed  to 
the  new  order  of  things  and  want  to  restore  the 
Republic  upon  substantially  its  original  lines.  They 
are  what  we  would  call  revolutionists,  but  the  term 
given  to  them  at  the  Court  is  (  Reactionists.'  They 
are  a  secret  body,  much  like  the  Nihilists  of  Russia, 
and  all  efforts  to  discover  and  uproot  them  have  so 
far  proved  unavailing.  Here  and  there  certain  con- 
spiracies have  been  from  time  to  time  unearthed  and 
the  conspirators  either  executed  or  imprisoned,  under 
High  Treason  laws  which  are  now  in  full  force.  The 
captured  men  have  always  suffered  like  martyrs  and 
have  gone  to  their  doom  resisting  all  temptations  to 
make  disclosures.  It's  known  that  the  Reactionists 
are  divided  into  bodies  governed  by  presidents  and 
that  over  them  all  is  one  supreme,  able  and  powerful 
head  known  as  the  High  President.  Beyond  this, 
practically  nothing  has  been  discovered  by  the  spies 
of  the  King." 

"  You've  raised  a  very  serious  question,"  said 
the  Professor  gravely.  "  As  true  Americans,  with 
whom  ought  our  lot  to  be  cast  ?  With  the  monarchy, 
or  with  these  —  these  Reactionists  ?  " 

"  I've  thought  of  that,"  answered  Kearns,  "  but 
what  are  we  to  do  %  We've  tumbled  into  this  state 
of  affairs,  and  it  seems  to  me  we  must  take  things  as 
we  find  them.  The  monarchy  to  us  is  a  visible  and 
tangible  fact,  whereas  if  we  started  out  to-morrow  to 
find  the  Reactionists  we  wouldn't  know  where  to  look 
for  them,  nor  whether  they  would  want  anything  to 
do  with  us  if  we  found  them.     Remember,  too,  that 


160       THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

here  we  are,  pitchforked  into  this  new  world,  without 
visible  means  of  support,  and  the  first  thing  for  a 
man  to  do  is  to  find  a  sphere  of  occupation  and  em- 
ployment. I'm  retained  to  make  certain  discoveries 
in  my  particular  line  of  professional  usefulness.  I'm 
like  a  scientist  employed  to  analyze  the  contents  of 
a  particular  stomach,  or  an  advocate  retained  to  pre- 
sent a  certain  line  of  facts  favorable  to  a  given  side. 
I  disclose  the  results  of  that  analysis,  or  I  present  that 
particular  line  of  facts  regardless  of  those  who  may 
be  affected  thereby.  It's  strictly  in  the  line  of  my 
professional  activity  —  entirely  within  the  scope  of 
my  professional  work  and  entirely  conventional  and 
proper.  It  doesn't  seem  to  me  that  it  would  be  wise, 
though,  for  us  to  plunge  into  the  troubled  sea  of 
politics  —  at  least  for  the  present." 

"  There  is  much  truth  in  what  you  say,"  replied 
the  Professor.  "  Such  discussion  is,  I  suppose,  fruit- 
less.    What  more  did  you  discover  \  " 

"  First  let  me  ask  you  a  few  questions,"  retorted 
Kearns.  "  How  about  that  steering  balloon  —  that 
air-ship  —  of  yours  \  How  near  was  it  to  completion 
when  you  went  to  sleep  ?  " 

"  My  air-ship  !  "  repeated  the  Professor  with  aston- 
ishment. "  The  invention,  as  far  as  related  to  all 
the  main  points  of  discovery,  was  practically  com- 
pleted at  the  time  this  misfortune  befell  us." 

"  Misfortune  !  "  repeated  Kearns.  "  I  really  don't 
know  whether  that's  the  right  way  to  put  it.  Re- 
member if  it  hadn't  been  for  that  misfortune,  you 
and  I  would  be  shades,  playing  harps  upon  some  damp 
rloud,  for  perhaps  the  last  quarter  of  a  century.  A 
!ive  scientist  is  worth  a  dozen  dead  geniuses  any 
lime.  However,  never  mind  about  that.  Let's  come 
back  to  the  balloon." 

"  The  air-ship !  "  corrected  the  Professor. 


THE  COUNTERPLOT  161 

•  "  Well,  then,  the  air-ship,"  continued  Kearns. 
"  Tell  me  about  it." 

"  Ah,"  exclaimed  the  Professor  with  enthusiasm, 
"  that  involves  quite  an  explanation  on  the  subject 
of  aero-mechanics." 

"  Is  it  like  a  balloon  ?  "  questioned  Kearns. 

"  My  dear  sir,"  exclaimed  the  Professor,  "  my  air- 
ship differs  as  much  from  a  balloon  as  a  modern 
steamship  from  a  mediaeval  caravel.  Drifting  aim- 
lessly about  between  earth  and  sky  in  a  balloon  at  the 
mercy  of  the  air  currents  is  one  thing ;  to  travel  rap- 
idly through  space  and  navigate  the  air  at  will  is 
an  entirely  different  proposition.  This  latter  is  what 
my  air-ship  does." 

"  Ah ! " 

"  Yes ;  not  only  are  you  enabled  in  my  air-ship," 
continued  the  Professor,  "  to  travel  through  space 
at  a  rate  of  speed  exceeding  that  of  the  fastest  steam 
engines  of  our  time,  but  you  can  navigate  absolutely 
at  will.  The  motive  power  is  stored  electricity, 
joined  to  a  new  force  which  I  discovered,  and  which 
is  one  of  the  important  features  of  my  invention.  I'll 
not  touch  upon  the  suspensory  power,"  continued  the 
Professor,  launching  forth  upon  his  theme  with  the 
enthusiasm  of  the  scientist,  "  for  that  is  too  simple. 
Let  me  explain  to  you  the  combined  motor  and 
atmospheric  counter  resistant  forces  by  which  the 
aerial  guidance  is  ensured.  Imagine  a  central  tur- 
ret'—  we  owe  the  basic  invention  on  this  point  to  the 
distinguished  scientist  Eoowalter  —  a  central  turret, 
I  say,  furnished  with  powerful  concentric  screws  con- 
nected with  a  number  of  lateral  phalanxes,  or " 

"  Merciful  powers,  Professor !  "  cried  Kearns, 
"  you  make  my  head  swim.  Why,  man  alive,  yon 
might  as  well  explain  all  this  to  a  stone  wall  as  to 


162        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

Hie,  for  all  I  understand  of  it.  Your  thing  floats  and 
travels  fast  and  can  be  steered,  eh  ?  " 

"  Precisely,"  answered  the  Professor  indulgently. 

*'  And  how  big  is  it  I  " 

"  You  can  build  it  any  size  you  please,"  replied 
the  Professor.     "  It  can  be  built  so  large  as  to " 

"  What  is  the  smallest  practical  size  ?  " 

"  About  as  small  as  an  ordinary  row-boat,  only 
somewhat  deeper  and  more  pointed  at  the  prow." 

"  It  can  be  made  to  stand  absolutely  still  in  space  ?  " 
continued  Kearns. 

"  Again,  I  will  compare  it  to  a  row-boat,"  replied 
the  Professor.  "  If  the  motor  power  be  shut  off  it 
will  remain  practically  still,  drifting  more  or  less 
lightly  in  the  air  currents,  just  as  a  row-boat,  unpro- 
pelled  by  the  oars,  drifts  in  the  water  according  as 
the  currents  are  more  or  less  strong." 

"  But  suppose  you  could  grapple  with  an  anchor 
or  other  attachment,  to  the  trunk  of  a  tree,  or  the 
side  of  some  structure,  would  it  take  much  force  to 
hold  your  machine  perfectly  still  ? "  questioned 
Kearns. 

"  Very  little,"  answered  the  Professor,  "  in  fact, 
I  can  again  best  illustrate  by  suggesting  a  row-boat 
held  steady  by  a  boat-hook." 

"  Just  so,"  answered  Kearns  slowly  and  with  a 
thoughtful  air ;  "  I  think  I  understand.  And  how 
long,"  he  continued,  after  a  moment's  reflection, 
"  would  it  take  you  to  build  a  machine  of  this  char- 
acter?" 

"  Of  what  size  ?  " 

"  Oh,  the  smallest  size." 

"  That  would  depend,"  answered  the  Professor, 
"  upon  the  facilities  at  my  command.  Given  a  shop 
fully  and  efficiently  equipped,  I  could  turn  out  my 
air-ship  in  a  remarkably  short  time.     Like  most  good 


THE  COUNTERPLOT      (;         163 

things,  it  presents  the  merit  of  much  simplicity  after 
once  the  right  principles  have  been  discovered.  You 
see " 

"  What  do  you  call  a  short  time,"  interrupted 
Kearns,  "  assuming  you  had  the  highest  facilities  ?  " 

"  Oh,  I  wouldn't  like  to  specify  exactly " 

"  Tell  me,"  broke  in  Kearns  impetuously ;  "  would 
it  be  a  day  —  a  month  —  a  year  ?  " 

"  Since  you  insist,"  replied  the  Professor,  "  under 
pressure  and  assuming  that  I  was  furnished  with  the 
highest  facilities,  my  invention  is  so  well  advanced 
and  the  practical  details  are  so  clearly  outlined  in 
my  mind  that  I  could  produce  an  air-ship  of  the 
smaller  type  in  from  two  to  three  weeks." 

Kearns  sprang  forward  with  a  joyous  exclamation. 

11  Professor,"  he  cried,  "  you  shall  build  that  ma- 
chine. You  shall  have  the  highest  facilities  —  the 
very  highest  facilities  —  I  promise  you,  but  it  must 
be  ready  within  a  month  at  latest !  " 

"  Why  —  why  —  what  do  you  mean  ?  "  exclaimed 
the  Professor  with  mingled  joy  and  astonishment. 

"  Never  mind !  "  retorted  Kearns.  "  Suffice  it  that 
the  King  will  refuse  me  nothing  I  need  to  assist  me 
in  my  investigations.  And  now,  I  have  one  other 
question  to  ask.     Does  your  machine  leak  at  times  ?  " 

"  Leak !  "  repeated  the  Professor,  bewildered. 

"  Well,  I  mean,"  explained  Kearns,  "  does  it  ever 
exude,  drop,  drip,  let  fall  —  or  whatever  you  like  to 
call  it  —  a  liquid  of  any  kind  ?  " 

"  Oh,  I  see  what  you  mean !  "  exclaimed  the  Pro- 
fessor, his  face  lighting  up.  "  Why,  yes.  To  the 
right  side  and  below  the  level  of  the  main  turret,  there 
is  a  secondary  storage  box.  The  decomposition  of 
the  chemicals  in  this  box  produces  the  power  to " 

"  Now,  Professor,"  interrupted  Kearns,  "  please 
don't  wax  technical.     Remember,  as  I  told  you,   a 


164        THE  FIKST  AMEKICAN  KING 

stone  wall  is  a  light  and  airy  thing  compared  to  my 
density  as  to  matters  mechanical." 

"  Very  well,  0  marvel  of  density !  "  retorted  the 
Professor  with  light  sarcasm ;  "  I  will  endeavor  to 
explain  so  that  even  your  benighted  brain  may  grasp 
and  understand.  What  would  you  do  if  you  had  a 
grate  full  of  coals  and  the  coals  had  burned  out  and 
you  wanted  more  fire  ?  " 

"  I  suppose,"  replied  Kearns  mischievously,  "  that 
I  should  ring  the  bell  and  tell  the  servant  to  make 
up  the  fire." 

"  And  how  would  the  servant  do  it  ?  " 

"  I  suppose  by  putting  on  more  coals,"  answered 
Kearns  cautiously. 

"  Indeed !  "  sniffed  the  Professor  contemptuously, 
"  does  it  not  occur  to  you  —  O  man  of  self-vaunted 
thickness  !  —  that  the  servant  might  indulge  in  some 
operation  prior  to  putting  on  those  fresh  coals  ?  " 

"  Huh !  "  exclaimed  Kearns,  with  a  puzzled  ex- 
pression ;  "  I  suppose  you  mean  that  there  would 
first  be  a  raking  out  of  the  ashes." 

"  Good !  "  exclaimed  the  Professor ;  "  you  are  be- 
ginning to  betray  an  intelligence  which  is  almost 
human.  Now,  so  it  is  in  the  case  of  the  air-ship. 
In  that  secondary  storage  box  to  which  I  have  re- 
ferred are  certain  chemicals  which  furnish  power. 
When  a  portion  of  these  chemicals  have  exhausted 
their  activity,  a  residuum  gradually  forms,  corre- 
sponding to  the  ashes  in  your  grate,  only  it  is  in 
liquid  form  instead  of  solid.  This  residuum  is 
allowed  to  escape  through  a  valve  and  is  thus  carried 
away  and,  of  course,  the  storage  box  is  fed  from 
time  to  time,  as  may  be  required,  with  fresh  energy- 
producing  chemicals." 

"  Let  me  see  if  I  understand  it,"  persisted  Kearns 
with  obstinacy.     "  This  liquid  residuum,  as  you  call 


THE  COUNTEKPLOT  165 

it,  leaks  away  through  the  bottom  of  the  air-ship, 
doesn't  it  ?  " 

"  You  may  put  it  that  way,"  said  the  Professor, 
smiling. 

"  And  that  blamed  old  dripping  liquid  residuum 
would  either  burn  into,  or  else  make  a  deep  brown 
stain  upon  any  fairly  soft  material  it  touched, 
wouldn't  it  ?  " 

"  Yes,  yes,"  exclaimed  the  Professor  excitedly ;  "  a 
dark  brown  stain.  But  how  —  how  did  you  know 
this  ? " 

"  Not  bad,  eh  ?  "  retorted  Kearns,  "  for  a  marvel 
of  density !  In  course  of  time  —  O  sage  of  a  cen- 
tury of  Wisdom !  —  and  under  your  able  direction, 
you'll  find  that  almost  human  intelligence  of  mine 
gradually  developing  itself." 

"  But  how  did  you  know  this  ?  "  persisted  the  Pro- 
fessor. 

"  Patience!  O  Aged  Wise  Man  of  the  decomposing 
chemicals,  main  turrets  and  cylindrical  tubes,"  re- 
torted Kearns ;  "  patience,  I  say !  Didn't  I  tell  you 
that  under  my  methods  everything  must  come  in  its 
proper  order  ?     Listen,  then,  and  you'll  learn." 

"  Pm  all  attention,"  said  the  Professor. 

"  I  commenced  my  operations  this  morning,"  be- 
gan Kearns,  "  by  making  a  thorough  examination  of 
the  locus.  I'll  not  weary  you  with  a  long  description 
of  the  preliminary  details  of  my  investigation  — 
how  I  extracted  and  took  possession  of  the  bullet 
which  had  been  fired  and  thoroughly  examined  the 
apartment,  its  surroundings  —  everything." 

•"  I  think  we  may  trust  you  for  that,"  remarked 
the  Professor,  with  a  smile. 

"  The  King's  sleeping-apartment,"  continued 
Kearns,  "  is  in  the  extreme  western  wing  of  the 
palace.     It  is  a  spacious  apartment,  with  two  alcoves. 


106        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

One  of  these  alcoves  contains  the  royal  couch;  the 
other,  the  royal  bath.  There  are  four  windows  and 
two  doors.  One  of  these  doors  —  that  leading  out 
on  the  passage  —  is  securely  sealed  from  the  inside ; 
the  other  leads  into  the  antechamber.  In  this  ante- 
chamber there  is  on  duty  every  night  a  Captain  of 
the  Guard,  and  the  outer  corridor  is  watched  by  three 
sentinels.  At  the  extreme  end  of  the  corridor  is 
another  apartment  also  at  the  disposal  of  the  Cap- 
tain of  the  Guard.  Should  anyone  appear  at  the  end 
of  the  corridor,  the  sentinel  would  signal  to  his  com- 
rade, who  would  in  turn  signal  to  the  third  sentinel 
and  the  officer  on  duty  would  come  forth  and  receive 
the  visitor  in  the  apartment  at  the  extreme  end  of  the 
corridor.  This  is  done  to  prevent  any  sound  in  the 
antechamber  disturbing  the  King." 

"  Quite  elaborate  precautions,  I  see,"  commented 
the  Professor. 

"  Just  so,"  resumed  Kearns.  "  Now,  last  night, 
Captain  Bingham,  of  the  Guard,  was  on  duty  and 
I'm  satisfied  from  what  he  tells  me  that  no  one  vis- 
ited the  corridor  after  the  King  had  retired.  In 
fact,  nothing  happened  until  the  sharp  ring  of  the 
electric  signal  in  the  King's  chamber  caused  Captain 
Bingham  to  rush  in  and  we  know  what  he  found 
there." 

"  Yes,  yes,"  assented  the  Professor. 

"  I  said  I  wouldn't  weary  you  by  going  into  un- 
necessary details,"  continued  Kearns,  "  so  I'll  omit 
the  further  investigations  pursued  by  me  and  come 
to  the  point  at  once  by  telling  you  that  I'm  satisfied 
that  no  attack  came  from  either  the  corridor  or  the 
antechamber.     It  came  from  without." 

"  From  the  windows  ?  " 

"  Exactly.  There  are  four  windows  to  the  apart- 
ment.    Two  of  these  were  closed  last  night  and  two 


THE  COUNTERPLOT  167 

open.  All  were  shaded  by  heavy  blinds  which  had 
been  drawn  fully  down.  The  windows  are  forty-five 
feet  from  the  ground  and  fifty-five  feet  below  the 
palace  roof.  The  grounds  immediately  beneath  are 
patrolled  by  two  sentinels,  and  on  the  roof  immedi- 
ately above  are  two  other  sentinels.  The  windows 
look  out  upon  the  park  and  the  nearest  tree  to  any 
of  the  four  windows  is  sixty-five  feet  away." 

"  It  would  seem  a  safe  enough  retreat  and  one  cer- 
tainly very  difficult  of  approach  by  an  enemy,"  re- 
marked the  Professor. 

"  And  yet,"  replied  Kearns,  "  that  was  the  point 
from  which  the  attack  came.  The  King  is  extremely 
fond  of  air.  He  experiences  a  sense  of  suffocation 
whenever  he  is  closed  in  an  apartment  which  is  not 
sufficiently  airy.  Confident  in  the  sentinels  above 
and  below  and  in  the  inaccessibility  of  his  chamber, 
it  has  been  his  custom  to  sleep  with  two  of  the  win- 
dows open.  I  examined  these  windows  carefully, 
inside  and  out.  I  discovered  only  one  thing.  It 
was  not  much  and  yet  —  yet  —  I  think  it  means 
something." 

"  What  was  it  ?  "  inquired  the  Professor  eagerly. 

"  On  the  under  side  of  the  stone  ledge  under  one 
of  the  windows,  I  discovered  three  sharp  scratches 
and  four  small  but  rather  deep  indentations." 

"  Ah !  is  that  all  ?  "  exclaimed  the  Professor  with 
an  air  of  disappointment. 

"  That  was  all,"  replied  Kearns  calmly,  "  yet  to 
me  it  means  something." 

"  What  do  you  think  %  " 

"  That  by  gripping  onto  the  under  part  of  that 
window  ledge,  something  was  held  in  place  there  — 
moored,  if  you  so  like  to  call  it." 

"  I  fail  to  follow  you,"  remarked  the  Professor. 

"  Very  well,  then,"  said  Kearns,  "  if  that's  the 


168       THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

ease,  we'll  leave  the  window  and  maybe  yon  can  fol- 
low me  into  the  grounds.  But  before  doing  that,  let 
me  tell  you  one  other  fact  I  discovered.  It  was  this : 
I  inquired  into  the  exact  dates  on  which  the  throe 
previous  attacks  had  taken  place  and  made  another 
little  discovery." 

"What  was  it?" 

"  Was  there  any  moon  last  night  ?  "  asked  Kearns, 
suddenly  breaking  off. 

"  No,"  answered  the  Professor,  after  a  moment's 
reflection;  "the  last  quarter  went  out  three  nights 
ago." 

"  And  last  night  was  (juite  a  dark  night,  wasn't 
it?" 

"  Yes,"  replied  the  Professor ;  "  slightly  hazy  and 
overcast." 

"  Any  heavy  wind  ?  " 

"  No,"  answered  the  Professor. 

"  Just  so,"  continued  Kearns,  "and  it  was  the  same 
on  the  occasions  of  the  other  three  attacks.  I've  con- 
sulted the  weather  records  and  in  each  case  found  a 
night  following  shortly  after  the  wane  of  the  moon's 
last  quarter  —  a  dark,  starless  night,  with  light 
winds.  Do  you  begin  to  scent  an  African  in  the 
woodpile  ?  " 

"  I  fear  I  must  have  a  cold,"  retorted  the  Pro- 
fessor, "  for  so  far  my  sense  of  smell  detects  noth- 
ing." 

"  Very  well,"  answered  Kearns,  "  follow  me  into 
the  grounds.  I  carefully  examined  the  trees  there 
—  not  merely  the  trunks,  but  also  the  tops.  And 
among  the  leaves  and  branches  of  some  of  the  tops  I 
discovered  something  more." 

"  Yes." 

"  That  a  number  —  quite  a  large  number  —  of  the 
leaves  had  great  blotches  where  they  had  been  eaten 


THE  COUNTEKPLOT  169 

away  and  a  number  of  the  twigs  and  Loughs  had  big 
brown  splashes.  I  followed  these  marks  in  a  west- 
erly direction  until  I  came  to  the  river.  There  I 
lost  them  and  all  efforts  failed  to  discover  where  they 
resumed  on  the  bank.  Now,  do  you  begin  to  discover 
anything  ?  " 

"  Speak  out,"  cried  the  Professor  in  ill-restrained 
excitement ;  "  say  what  you  mean  !  " 

"  I'll  endeavor  to  make  it  plain  to  your  intelli- 
gence, O  man  of  self -convicted  density !  "  retorted 
Kearns  triumphantly.  "  What  do  you  think  was  the 
something  which  could  come,  in  dead  of  night,  under 
the  window,  forty-five  feet  above  the  ground,  and  be 
unseen  by  the  sentinels  above  and  below ;  the  some- 
thing which  put  a  mark  upon  the  stone  ledge  as  if  it 
had  been  moored  there  by  the  sharp  prongs  of  a  boat- 
hook;  the  something  that  leaves  behind  it  burns  and 
dark  brown  stains  upon  the  leaves  and  branches  of 
the  trees  ?  " 

"  What  —  what  —  can  be  the  meaning  of  this  ?  " 
stammered  the  Professor,  his  face  working  with  ex- 
citement. 

"  That  there  are,"  rejoined  Kearns,  "  other  dis- 
tinguished scientists  and  inventors  besides  Professor 
Dean  —  that  the  work  he  dropped  fifty  years  ago 
has  been  taken  up  by  others  and  secretly  perfected." 

"  An  air-ship  —  an  air-ship !  "  gasped  the  Pro- 
fessor. 

"  Yes,"  retorted  Kearns,  "  yes,  O  man  of  cranks 
and  cog-wheels,  an  air-ship.  An  air-ship  coming  on 
dark  and  windless  nights,  between  moons,  passing  un- 
seen the  sentinels  on  turret  and  in  grounds,  and  moor- 
ing under  the  windows  of  the  King  to  deliver  its 
attack.  So  will  it  come  again !  And  it  is  with  an 
air-ship,  designed  and  built  by  you,  that  we  must 
and  can  alone  meet  the  attack." 


CHAPTER    XV 

THE  EAVESDROPPER  OF  THE  QUEEN'S  WALK 

"  Say,  Dorothy !  "  cried  Beatrice  Cuming,  sweep- 
ing; into  Miss  Brandon's  apartment  with  the  enemy 
and  enthusiasm  of  a  miniature  cyclone ;  "  I'm  so  glad 
to  catch  you  alone  —  so  glad !  I  was  afraid  some- 
body would  be  here  and  I  wouldn't  have  a  chance  to 
talk  to  you  right  away." 

Dorothy  shifted  her  fair  head  from  its  position 
on  the  cushions  of  her  easy-chair  and  turned  her  blue 
eyes  upon  the  speaker. 

"  Why,  what  has  happened,  Trixy  ? "  she  asked 
with  languid  interest.  "  It  must,  of  course,  be  some- 
thing of  much  importance,  considering  it's  almost 
an  hour  since  you  left  me." 

"  An  hour !  "  exclaimed  Beatrice ;  "  let  me  tell  you, 
a  whole  catalogue  of  wonderful  things  can  happen  in 
an  hour.  And  so  it  is  here.  I've  a  whole  bookful 
to  tell  you  —  a  romance  —  a  love  affair  —  a  trag- 
edy !  " 

"  Your  introduction  is  certainly  promising,  Trixy, 
dear,"  remarked  Dorothy  with  the  same  languid  in- 
terest, "  but  it's  rather  lengthy.  Remember,  long 
introductions  to  romances  have  been  out  of  fashion 
since  the  days  of  our  great-grandmothers.  "Wouldn't 
it  bo  well  to  begin  your  story  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know  just  how  to  begin  it,"  answered 
Beatrice  ingenuously,  "  it's  so  interesting.  But," 
she  added  suddenly,  "  you're  quite  sure  you  meant 
what  you  told  me  the  othor  day  ?  " 

171 


172        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

"Told  you  the  other  day?"  inquired  Dorothy, 
puzzled  ;  "  told  you  about  what?  " 

"  Alx)ut  your  not  caring  anything  for  him,  of 
course  ?  " 

"  And  who  may  '  him  '  be  ?  "  asked  Dorothy,  with 
an  ever  so  slight  change  of  voice. 

'"  Why,  Captain  Mortimer,  of  course!  " 

"  Oh !  "  exclaimed  Dorothy,  her  face  flushing 
slightly,  "  of  course  not.  How  silly  vou  are, 
Trixy!  " 

"  Well,"  replied  Beatrice,  "  I  thought  I'd  make 
quite  sure,  you  know.  Dear  old  papa  says  I'm 
always  blundering  into  things  without  first  making 
proper  inquiry,  so  I  thought  I'd  make  quite  sure  in 
this  case.     I  wonder  who  it  can  be,  though  ?  " 

"  Who  what  can  be  ?  " 

"  Never  mind !  "  retorted  Beatrice ;  "  listen  to  my 
story  first,  and  we  can  then  put  our  heads  together 
and  try  to  guess  who  the  she  is." 

"  Oh !  "  exclaimed  Dorothy,  slightly  arching  her 
eyebrows,  "  you  have  really  decided  to  begin,  then  ?  " 

"  Stop,  Dorothy,"  protested  Beatrice,  "  don't  tease 
me !  You'll  drive  some  of  it  out  of  my  head  and  I 
don't  want  to  forget  anything.  Let  me  see;  where 
shall  I  begin?  Oh,  yes!  Well;  after  I  left  you 
I  went  for  a  stroll  in  the  park.  It  was  such  a  beauti- 
ful day ;  the  smell  of  the  flowers  and  the  grasses  was 
so  sweet  that  I  kept  on  and  on  almost  to  the  end  of 
I  lie  Queen's  Walk.  Presently  I  felt  tired  and  looked 
about  me  for  a  place  to  rest.  I  saw  a  seat  some  little 
distance  away  and  I  kept  on  until  I  reached  it  and 
there  I  sat  down.     Do  you  follow  me,  Dorothy  ?  " 

"  I  find  no  difficulty  in  doing  so  thus  far,  Trixy," 
answered  Dorothy,  with  a  smile.  "  Consider  that 
I've  followed  you  to  the  seat  at  the  end  of  the  Queen's 
Walk." 


THE  EAVESDROPPER  173 

"  I  hadn't  been  there  more  than  a  few  minutes," 
resumed  Beatrice,  "  when  I  noticed,  around  a  bend  in 
the  path,  two  officers  approaching.  Who  do  you 
think  they  were  %  " 

"  Remember,  Trixy,"  answered  Dorothy,  "  you 
are  supposed  to  be  telling  a  story  —  not  propounding 
riddles !  " 

"  Why,  Captain  Swords  and  Captain  Mortimer, 
Dorothy !  " 

"  Indeed !  "  remarked  Dorothy  very  quietly. 

"  Yes.  They  were  talking  together  and  they  didn't 
see  me.     What  do  you  think  I  did,  Dorothy  ?  " 

"  Now  you  are  asking  a  riddle,  Trixy,"  replied 
Dorothy.  "  You  waited  until  they  came  up,  I  sup- 
pose, and  then  monopolized  their  attention  during  the 
rest  of  the  promenade !  " 

"  All  wrong  — •  all  wrong !  "  cried  Beatrice  gayly ; 
"  nothing  of  the  kind !  Right  back  of  my  seat  was 
a  big  tree,  or  bush  —  as  high  as  this  room  and  half 
as  big  around.  Watching  them  closely  and  being 
quite  sure  they  hadn't  seen  me,  I  crept  around  to  the 
back  of  that  bush  and  hid." 

"  Hid !  "  exclaimed  Dorothy  in  astonishment ; 
"  why,  what  was  your  object  in  doing  that  ? " 

"  Just  this,"  said  Beatrice,  with  a  merry  laugh ; 
"  I  thought  they  might  take  the  seat  I  had  left  and, 
if  they  did,  what  fun  it  would  be  to  creep  up  behind 
them  and  drop  a  few  grains  of  gravel  down  the  collar 
of  Ralph's  uniform." 

"  Oh,  the  idea !  "  exclaimed  Dorothy,  with  a 
shocked  air.  "  And,  Trixy,"  severely,  "  since  when 
have  you  taken  to  calling  the  officers  of  the  Guard 
by  their  first  names  ?  " 

"  Captain  Swords,  I  should  say,  of  course,"  re- 
plied Beatrice,  not  in  the  least  abashed ;  "  but  he's 
so  jolly  and  all  his  brother  officers  call  him  Ralph. 


174        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

Tt  seems  so  much  easier  to  eall  him  that.  What  a 
brave  fellow  he  must  be,  too !  Captain  Bingham  was 
telling  me  how  he  —  Ral  —  Captain  Swords,  I 
mean  —  rode  out  to  retake  the  abandoned  guns  at 
Vladivlik  and  how  he  was  wounded.  Oh,  I  just 
thrilled  as  I  listened  to  that  story." 

"  Yes,"  exclaimed  Dorothy,  apparently  catching 
Beatrice's  enthusiasm,  "  but  Captain  Mortimer  was 
there,  too.  It  was  he,  after  all,  who  brought  in  the 
guns  and,  though  wounded,  carried  Captain  Swords 
from  under  the  Russian  fire." 

"Yes;  and  Ralph  —  Captain  Swords,  I  mean  — 
was  decorated  with  the  Columbia  Cross,"  said 
Beatrice. 

"  So  was  Captain  Mortimer,"  replied  Dorothy, 
"  besides  receiving  mention  in  General  Orders. 
But,"  she  added  hastily,  "  are  we  going  to  discuss 
the  Russian  War,  dear,  or  are  you  going  on  with  your 
story  ?  " 

"  I'm  sure  it  must  have  been  you  who  interrupted 
me,  dear,"  rejoined  Beatrice  imperturbably.  "  Let 
me  see,  where  was  I  ?  Oh,  yes !  I  had  hidden  be- 
hind the  big  bush.  Well ,  on  they  came  and,  sure 
enough,  they  seated  themselves  at  the  very  place  I 
had  just  left.  For  a  while  they  sat  there  quite  still. 
Neither  of  them  said  anything  and  from  my  hiding- 
place  I  could  smell  the  smoke  of  their  cigars.  I 
was  trying  to  find  some  gravel,  but  I  couldn't  discover 
any  behind  the  bush,  so  I  was  stooping  down  looking 
for  some  pebbles  of  the  right  size,  when  suddenly 
Captain  Swords'  voice  came  to  me.  'Stanley,  old 
fellow,'  he  said,  '  there's  been  something  wrong  with 
you  the  last  few  days.  Won't  you  speak  out  and  tell 
me  what's  the  matter  ?  Usually  there  are  no  secrets 
between  us.' 


THE  EAVESDROPPER  175 

"  It  seemed  to  me  a  long  time  before  the  other 
made  any  reply,  but  at  last  his  voice  came  to  me. 

"  '  Ralph,'  he  said,  '  I  want  to  get  out  of  this  —  to 
get  away  from  here.  I've  made  up  my  mind  to  leave 
the  Guard  and  exchange  into  the  Tenth,  or  some  other 
regiment.' 

"  '  You  astonish  me,  Stanley,'  replied  Captain 
Swords ;  '  for  I  thought  it  was  rather  jolly  here  and 
that  you  found  it  so,  too.  But,  be  that  as  it  may,  if 
you  want  to  exchange,  then  exchange  let  it  be  for 
both  of  us.     Just  say  the  word  —  when  ? ' 

"  '  What !  You'll  leave  the  Imperial  Guard,  too  ? ' 
the  other  exclaimed. 

"  '  Yes,'  said  Captain  Swords,  '  we've  always  been 
together.  Whenever  you  go,  I  go  with  you.  Still, 
I'd  like  to  know  just  what  has  put  you  out  of  sorts 
with  things  here.' 

"  Again  there  was  a  long  pause  before  there  came 
an  answer.  I  was  puzzling  just  what  I  ought  to 
do  —  whether  to  come  out  and  announce  myself,  or 
stay  quietly  where  I  was.  You  see,  having  unin- 
tentionally listened  so  far,  I  was  embarrassed  and 
didn't  know  quite  what  to  do.  Before  I  could  make 
up  my  mind,   Captain  Mortimer  again  spoke. 

"  '  Ralph,'  he  said,  '  I'll  be  quite  frank  with  you. 
Before  I  came  to  this  cursed  Court,  my  experiences 
with  women  had  been  the  ordinary  ones  of  a  soldier. 
I  hadn't  been  here  a  week,  though,  before  I  met  one 
who  appealed  to  me  as  no  other  woman  ever  had. 
No  need  for  me  to  name  her.  You  know  whom  I 
mean.' 

"  '  The  women  here  do  seem  to  have  a  decidedly 
queer  effect  upon  a  man,'  answered  Captain  Swords. 
'  I  have  noticed  that.  But  I  didn't  mean  to  inter- 
rupt.    Go  on,  Stanley/ 

"  '  Ralph,'  said  the  other  one,  and  his  voice  seemed 


176       THE  FIEST  AMERICAN  KING 

to  me  to  shake  as  he  spoke,  '  I'm  an  infernal  fool.  I 
loved  that  woman  —  loved  her  passionately,  rever- 
ently, madly.  Her  presence,  her  voice,  her  touch 
seemed  to  open  the  gates  of  heaven  to  me  —  the  world 
was  different  from  what  it  ever  had  looked  to  me  be- 
fore. It  was  heaven  and  yet  there  was  a  hell  in  it, 
too.  Ralph,  I  tell  you,  man,  if  you'd  be  happy, 
never  love  a  woman  like  that.' 

"  '  Poor  old  fellow !  '  said  Captain  Swords." 

"  Excuse  me,  Trixy,  dear,"  exclaimed  Dorothy, 
suddenly  wheeling  her  chair,  "  but  the  light  hurts 
me.  You  won't  mind  my  turning  this  way,  will 
you  ?  No,  dear,  don't  move.  I  like  your  voice  to 
come  to  me  that  way  —  from  behind  me.  I'm  listen- 
ing.    Continue." 

"  Very  well,  let  me  see  where  I  was,"  resumed 
Beatrice.  "  Oh,  yes  ;  Captain  Swords  said :  '  Poor 
old  fellow !  '  and  then  the  other  continued : 

"  '  I  told  you,  Ralph,  that  I  was  an  infernal  fool 
and  that's  putting  it  mildly.  I  loved  her  and  I  was 
fool  enough  for  a  brief,  mad  period  to  hope  —  to  be- 
lieve —  that  she  loved  me.  Lady  Brooke  happened 
to  speak  her  name  one  night  and  incidentally  men- 
tioned a  few  details  concerning  her.  Lady  Brooke 
said  she  was  a  favorite  with  the  Queen  and  that  she 
was  considered  to  be  one  of  the  richest  heiresses  of 
the  Court.  As  she  said  the  words,  Ralph,  I  went 
sick  all  through  me.  I  felt  as  when  that  Russian 
bullet  hit  me  at  Pedershof,  for  I  had  known  noth- 
ing of  this  and  here,  it  seemed,  was  an  unexpected 
barrier  between  us.  Lady  Brooke,  however,  went  on 
to  say  —  and  she  warned  me  that  this  was  strictly 
confidential,  of  course  —  that  this  report,  like  many 
other  reports,  had  little  foundation  in  fact;  that  in 
reality  the  lady's  money  was  largely  in  expectancy 
as  the  heiress  of  her  maternal  uncle,  Sir  Ray  Mur- 


THE  EAVESDROPPER  177 

ray,  the  head  of  the  Copper  Trust ;  that  Sir  Ray  was 
engaged  in  a  war  to  the  death  with  Sir  Brussels  Page 
and  that  the  whole  thing  might  result  in  Sir  Ray's 
financial  annihilation,  in  which  case  the  lady's  sup- 
posed millions  would  dwindle  to  nothing.  It  seems 
a  strange,  I  might  say  almost  a  mean  thing,  Ralph, 
to  rejoice  at  some  form  of  ill-fortune  touching  the 
woman  you  adore,  but  the  truth  is  the  truth  —  I  did 
rejoice  at  those  words  of  Lady  Brooke.  Those  mil- 
lions would  have  been  a  barrier  between  us.  Without 
them,  I  felt  she  was  nearer  to  me.  Lady  Brooke  is 
a  handsome  woman  —  although  I  never  particularly 
took  to  her  —  but  she  never  looked  so  handsome  to  me 
as  at  that  moment.  I  could  have  laughed  out  — 
laughed  out  loud  and  long  —  as  she  spoke  pityingly 
of  the  almost  certain  loss  of  those  confounded  mil- 
lions. Just  as  if  the  man  who  wins  her  for  her  own 
sweet  sake  alone  will  not  be  richer  than  the  royal 
heir  who  comes  to  his  throne.'  " 

"  He  said  that  —  he  said  that !  You  heard  him 
say  that  ?  "  murmured  Dorothy,  from  her  chair,  in  a 
strangely  muffled  voice. 

"  Yes ;  of  course  that's  what  he  said,"  replied 
Beatrice,  engrossed  in  her  story.  "  Am  I  not  giving 
you  the  exact  words  ?  " 

"  Go  on  —  go  on." 

"  There  now !  You've  thrown  me  all  out  by  inter- 
rupting and  I've  lost  the  thread." 

"  Please  forgive  me.     What  did  they  say  next  ?  " 

"  Well,"  resumed  Beatrice,  "  Captain  Swords 
asked  him  why  he  had  given  up  hope.  Why  was  it 
that  he  thought  the  lady  didn't  care  for  him  ?  " 

"Yes;  yes!" 

"  Then  the  other  answered  him  this  way :  '  Ralph, 
it's  all  over.  I'm  just  as  much  a  "  goner  "  as  a  soli- 
tary picket  cut  off  and  surrounded  by  a  sotnia  of 


178        THE  FIRST  AMERICAX  KIXG 

Cossacks.  You  remember,  Ralph,  the  night  of  the 
ball  —  the  Last  one.  I  danced  twice  with  her  that 
night  and  twice,  as  we  danced,  she  looked  into  my 
eves  and  T  could  have  sworn  I  saw  the  love-light  there. 
I  was  encouraged,  Ralph  —  buoyed  up  by  my  fool 
hopes  and  went  blindly  on  to  the  awful  ambuscade 
that  lay  for  me  at  the  end  of  this  lover's  lane  I  was 
treading.  After  the  second  dance,  I  walked  with  her 
in  the  great  conservatory  and  there,  my  brain  whirl- 
ing, I  told  her  —  I  don't  know  what !  ' 

"  '  And  she  refused  you  ? '  Captain  Swords  asked. 

"  '  Refused  me  !  '  the  other  answered,  oh  !  so  sadly ; 
i  well,  she  listened  to  the  end  and  then  gave  a  little 
laugh,  treated  it  all  as  a  mere  jest  —  a  nothing  — 
murmured  some  words  which  I  was  too  dazed  even  to 
understand  —  and  left  me  hastily  to  join  her  partner 
for  the  next  dance.' 

"  '  The  cursed  coquette !  '  I  heard  Captain  Swords 
say  savagely. 

"  Then  the  other  turned  upon  Captain  Swords 
fiercely  and  declared  that  he  wouldn't  hear  one  word 
of  reproach  spoken  of  her  in  his  presence ;  that 
whatever  she  had  done  was,  beyond  question,  right ; 
no  doubt  that  was  the  way  of  the  ladies  of  the  Court, 
and  if  rough  soldiers,  who  had  spent  their  lives  in 
camp  and  field,  didn't  properly  understand  those 
ways,  it  was  their  fault  and  they  ought  not  to  com- 
plain." 

"  How  noble  —  how  generous !  "  came  from  the 
figure  in  the  chair. 

"  Wasn't  it,  Dorothy !  "  continued  Beatrice ;  "  but 
that's  not  all.  He  said  that  after  the  lady  had  re- 
fused him,  he  remained  in  the  conservatory  for  some 
time  and  then,  not  very  well  knowing  what  he  was 
doing,  he  wandered  back  to  the  ball-room  to  catch 
another  glimpse  of  her  as  she  danced  with  that  black- 


THE  EAVESDROPPER  179 

looking  devil,  Lord  Ashley,  as  he  called  him.  Then 
he  went  on  to  say  that  as  he  stood  there,  Lady  Brooke 
came  up  and  began  to  talk  to  him.  She  drew  his 
attention  to  the  lady  and  asked  him  if  she  and  Lord 
Ashley  didn't  make  a  handsome  couple  —  she  sq  light, 
and  he  so  dark.  Lady  Brooke  said  that  she  thought 
there  would  surely  be  a  match,  as  she  had  been  play- 
ing her  cards  to  win  Lord  Ashley  because  of  his  title, 
and  a  titled  husband  was  the  one  thing  above  every- 
thing that  the  lady  had  set  her  heart  on." 

"  She  said  that  —  she  said  that  to  him !  "  cried 
Dorothy,  suddenly  sitting  upright  in  her  chair. 

"  Yes,  yes  ;  that's  what  she  said  and  more  too.  She 
went  on  to  tell  him  that  she  thought  the  lady  would 
very  likely  succeed  and  would  become  Lady  Ashley, 
as  she  was  a  clever  and  skilful  angler,  but  did  he  not 
think  that  she  angled  for  him  a  little  too  openly  and 
too  boldly?" 

"Oh  — oh!     What " 

"  Now  don't  interrupt  me,  Dorothy,"  exclaimed 
Beatrice,  completely  engrossed  in  her  story,  "  or  I'll 
lose  it  all  again.  Well,  when  Lady  Brooke  said 
that  to  him  the  one  wish  in  his  mind,  he  said,  was  that 
she  were  a  man  and  he  would  have  strangled  her 
where  she  stood  for  those  words  she  had  spoken." 

"  Ah !  " 

"  Yes,  and  then  he  went  on  to  say  that  whomever 
she  chose  —  whether  lord  or  commoner  —  would  be 
fortunate,  indeed,  and  that  he  hoped  she  would  be  as 
happy  as  he  knew  she  was  good  and  beautiful.  Then 
he  told  Captain  Swords  that  he  should  always  love 
hei',  with  the  loyalty  a  soldier  has  for  his  flag; 
worship  her  with  the  blind  idolatry  of  a  fanatic  for 
his  God.  He  said  that  if  war  should  again  break 
out,  it  would  find  him  at  the  front  and  that  when  he 
fell-  his  one  hope  was  that  her  face  might  be  the  last 


180        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

vision  to  pass  before  his  eyes ;  her  name  the  last  word 
upon  his  lips.  Oh,  Dorothy,  I  tell  you  he  spoke  so 
beautifully  and  so  sadly  of  her  that  I  just  sniveled 
behind  the  bush  and  the  sob  I  gave  nearly  betrayed 
me.  As  for  Captain  Swords,  I  could  hear  him 
pacing  up  and  down  the  path  and  he  flung  his  cigar 
away  with  such  violence  that  it  flew  clear  over  the 
big  bush  and  almost  fell  on  my  head.  I  wish  I  had 
someone  to  care  for  me  like  that.  As  for  Lady 
Brooke " 

At  the  mention  of  that  name,  Dorothy  suddenly 
sprang  from  her  chair  and  confronted  Beatrice  with 
pale  face  and  strained,  wide-staring  eyes. 

"  The  wretch  —  oh,  the  wretch !  "  she  murmured 
fiercely.     "  Such  base  falsehood  !  " 

"  Why,  Dorothy,"  exclaimed  Beatrice,  startled, 
"  why  are  you  so  excited  ?  " 

"  Excited !  Who  wouldn't  be  in  the  face  of  such 
horrible  untruths  —  such  a  dreadful  mistake  !  " 

"  Why,  why,  Dorothy !  "  cried  Beatrice  quickly. 
"  Do  you  know  anything  of  this  ?  Who  the  lady  is  ? 
Is  she  some  friend  of  yours  ?  Have  I  made  you 
unhappy  ?  " 

Dorothy  took  a  step  forward  and  put  her  arms 
around  Beatrice. 

"  Unhappy  !  "  she  stammered ;  "  oh,  I'm  wretched 
—  so  wretched.  No,  no ;  I  mean  I'm  happy  —  so 
very  happy.     You  don't  understand." 

But  Beatrice  released  herself  and  looked  anx- 
iously into  her  friend's  face. 

"  What  has  happened,  Dorothy  ?  "  she  inquired 
with  concern.  "  You  are  ill !  You  are  all  white 
and  red  by  turns." 

"  No,  no ;  you  don't  understand !  " 

"  Understand,  eh !  "  quoth  Beatrice,  the  light  of 
a  sudden  intelligence  coming  into  her  eyes.     "  Oh  ! 


THE  EAVESDROPPER  181 

I  see  —  I  see.  There  now !  Just  to  think  of  it ! 
As  papa  would  say,  I've  been  blundering  again." 

"See!     You  see  what?" 

"  But  you  distinctly  told  me,"  came  the  somewhat 
irrelevant  answer,  "  that  you  didn't  care  for  him !  " 

"  Why,  of  course  —  of  course  not ;  you  silly,  silly 
goose !  You  don't  understand  —  you  don't  under- 
stand   " 

And  by  way  of  adding  to  Beatrice's  comprehension 
of  the  situation,  Dorothy  suddenly  drew  her  to  her 
heart,  sank  her  head  upon  her  shoulder,  and,  with 
great  broken  sobs  following  fast  upon  one  another, 
wept  as  if  her  heart  would  break. 


CHAPTER    XVI 


THE  TAP  OF  MILAM  S  FAN" 


"  Do  you  think  it  will  surely  come  ?  Are  you  con- 
fident that  this  entire  hypothesis  of  yours  is  correctly 
grounded  ?  "  and  Professor  Dean  peered  with  wist- 
ful anxiety  into  Kearns'  face. 

That  personage  stared  silently  for  a  moment  into 
the  Professor's  inquiring  eyes,  and  then  answered 
with  imperturbability : 

"  Will  ducks  swim  ?  " 

"  I  believe  that  according  to  established  natural 
laws,"  answered  the  Professor  acidly,  "  they  will." 

"  Will  this  air-ship  of  yours  fly  ?  " 

This  time  the  Professor's  reply  showed  some 
warmth. 

"  Hasn't  it  been  tested  ?  Haven't  you  seen  for 
yourself  ?     Aren't  you  satisfied  ?  "  he  inquired. 

"  Perfectly,"  conceded  Kearns  bluntly.  "  Well , 
just  as  sure  as  ducks  swim  and  as  your  air-ship  flies  — 
and  mighty  high  and  rapid  is  its  flight,  I'll  admit  — 
so  surely  will  my  hypothesis,  as  you  call  it,  turn  out 
scientifically  correct  and  I'll  run  my  quarry  to 
ground.  I'm  not  accustomed  to  failure,  you  know, 
and  I  certainly  can't  afford  to  fail  in  this  case. 
Didn't  the  warning  say  that  the  next  will  be  the  last  ? 
That  means,  I  take  it,  there  is  going  to  be  at  least 
one  more  warning  and,  judging  from  past  success, 
they'll  adopt  the  same  means  and  the  same  methods 
as  before.     This  is  just  about  the  time  when  things 

183 


184       THE  FIKST  AMERICAN  KING 

are  due ;  the  night,  too,  judging  from  present  indica- 
tions, looks  as  if  it  would  be  the  right  kind.  I'd  not 
be  astonished  if  this  was  the  night !  " 

The  conversation  was  held  in  a  spacious  apart- 
ment of  the  Summer  Palace  immediately  to  the  west 
of  the  King's  sleeping  apartment,  forming  part  of 
the  suite  in  the  palace  assigned  to  the  affairs  of  the 
Chancellerie.  Stretching  across  the  apartment  upon 
two  rests,  which  brought  it  to  a  level  with  the  wide 
bay  windows,  was  a  machine  resembling  in  length  and 
general  contour  an  ordinary  steam  launch,  but  differ- 
ing materially  from  a  steam  launch  in  its  various 
accessory  details.  It  was  Professor  Dean's  much- 
prized  air-ship  —  christened  by  Kearns  "  The  Royal 
Dean." 

The  various  component  parts  of  this  air-ship  had 
been  manufactured  with  much  secrecy  at  one  of  the 
royal  dockyards.  The  parts  had  then  been  for- 
warded to  a  secluded  portion  of  the  country,  where 
a  temporary  workshop  had  been  fitted  up  for  the  Pro- 
fessor. There  the  assembling  of  the  parts  had  taken 
place  and  the  final  and  successful  tests  made.  Thanks 
to  the  careful  and  elaborate  precautions  taken,  no 
inkling  of  the  nature  of  the  work  had  filtered  abroad. 
Only  three  of  the  workmen  engaged  on  the  assembling 
really  knew  that  an  air-ship  had  been  turned  out,  and 
these  three  were  very  securely  taken  care  of  for  the 
present. 

The  same  careful  and  secret  precautions  were  ob- 
served in  bringing  the  air-ship  to  the  Summer  Palace 
and  installing  it  there.  At  Kearns'  suggestion,  the 
Court  had  abandoned  the  Summer  Palace  at  the  time 
the  work  was  first  begun,  the  Queen  and  her  suite 
going  to  Emberton,  and  the  King  and  his  suite  to  the 
City  Palace. 

At  last  the  work  on  the  air-ship  had  been  completed 


THE  TAP  OF  MILADI'S  FAN         185 

and  that  portion  of  the  Chancellerie  suite  adjoining 
the  King's  sleeping  apartment  had  been  given  over  to 
Kearns.  There,  after  certain  preliminary  work  in 
connection  with  one  of  the  big  bay  windows  so  as  to 
permit  of  the  ready  exit  of  the  air-ship,  the  installa- 
tion had  taken  place. 

Then  and  not  until  then,  Kearns  gave  the  word 
and  the  King  and  Queen,  accompanied  by  their  re- 
spective suites,  returned  to  the  Summer  Palace.  This 
return  took  place  while  there  were  yet  three  nights 
left  of  the  waning  moon  —  just  in  the  nick  of  time, 
as  Kearns  put  it. 

There  was,  however,  one  matter  troubling  Kearns. 
The  necessity  of  secrecy  and  also  of  compactness  of 
construction  had  been  such  that  it  had  only  been 
possible  to  construct  an  air-ship  of  very  moderate  di- 
mensions —  an  air-ship  equipped  to  carry  only  two 
persons.  Now,  one  of  these  persons  must  necessarily 
be  Professor  Dean,  since  he  alone  was  competent  to 
navigate  the  aerial  craft.  Who  was  to  be  the  other 
passenger  %  Equally  obviously  —  as  Kearns  himself 
was  compelled  regretfully  to  admit  —  it  could  not  be 
Kearns.  In  following  the  attacking  party,  it  was  im- 
possible to  predict  what  situations  might  be  encoun- 
tered or  what  exigencies  might  arise.  To  cope  prop- 
erly with  these  situations  and  meet  these  exigencies, 
necessarily  required  some  person  who  was  familiar 
with  existing  conditions  and  customs,  otherwise  the 
whole  pursuit  might  result  in  failure  and  the  maraud- 
ers escape.  A  man  who  had  only  recently  excited  the 
risibilities  and  the  wonderment  of  rustics  by  inquir- 
ing for  a  horse  and  carriage  was  hardly  the  right  man 
for  the  task.  Sadly  and  with  woebegone  mien, 
Kearns  had  to  concede  it. 

The  solitary  passenger  accompanying  the  Profes- 
sor must   be   a   man   familiar   with   existing  condi- 


186        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

tions  —  a  man  of  authority,  of  resource  and  of  cour- 
age. Casting  about  them  for  a  selection,  neither 
Kearns  nor  the  Professor  could  think  of  any  person 
possessing  better  qualifications  for  the  work  in  hand 
than  Captain  Stanley  Mortimer,  of  the  Imperial 
Guard.  Following  upon  Beatrice's  introduction  and 
the  Captain's  invitation  to  visit  his  quarters,  they 
had  both  formed  his  acquaintance;  he  had  shown 
them  various  little  attentions  and  kindnesses;  both 
were  impressed  with  him. 

But  Captain  Mortimer's  military  duties  as  an 
officer  of  the  Guard  might  possibly  interfere  with  his 
movements  on  the  critical  night.  There  must  also 
be  a  substitute,  in  case  of  emergency,  and  naturally 
they  selected  Captain  Mortimer's  comrade,  Captain 
Ralph  Swords. 

Reluctantly,  therefore,  Kearns  consented  and  the 
subject  was  broached  to  the  two  officers,  under  strict- 
est promise  of  secrecy.  To  no  one  must  they  breathe 
one  word  of  the  expedition,  neither  before  nor  after 
the  event,  until  relieved  from  their  respective  prom- 
ises by  Mr.  Kearns. 

Both  eagerly  consented  to  embark  upon  what  prom- 
ised to  be  at  least  an  interesting  adventure.  They 
had  contemplated  leaving  the  Imperial  Guard  and 
exchanging  into  another  regiment,  but  in  view  of  this 
adventure  they  decided  to  postpone  matters. 

Following  his  customary  methods,  Keams  com- 
municated these  selections  to  no  one  —  not  even  to 
the  King.     Mr.  Kearns  liked  to  deal  only  in  results. 

In  addition  to  the  air-ship,  there  was  a  "  little  side 
invention,"  as  Mr.  Kearns  termed  it,  which  gave 
that  gentleman  much  satisfaction  and  comfort.  The 
Professor  dubbed  it  "  an  aerestograph,"  but  Kearns 
preferred  to  refer  to  it  as  "  the  aerial  telegraph." 
This  latter  not  inaptly  described  it.     It  was  an  instru- 


THE  TAP  OF  MILADPS  FAN         187 

meat  fastened  to  the  end  of  a  support  some  four  feet 
in  height.  Supplied  each  with  one  of  these  instru- 
ments, two  persons  many  miles  apart  could  inter- 
change messages,  without  the  use  of  any  connecting 
wire,  provided  there  were  no  interfering  obstructions. 
The  Professor  referred  to  it  as  an  exceedingly  sim- 
ple invention,  based  to  some  extent  upon  the  same 
principles  as  those  applied  by  Marconi,  but  with 
apparatus  much  simplified.  One  of  these  instru- 
ments was  mounted  in  the  room  in  the  Chancellerie 
given  over  to  Kearns ;  the  other  instrument  was  stored 
away  in  the  air-ship.  By  rising  in  the  air-ehip  to 
a  sufficient  altitude  to  clear  intervening  obstructions, 
there  would  thus  be  constant  possibility  of  communi- 
cation between  the  air-ship  and  Kearns.  By  means 
of  this  instrument,  Kearns  felt  that  he  was  at  least 
in  touch  with  the  Professor  and  the  news. 

So  matters  stood  on  the  night  of  the  recorded  con- 
versation between  the  Professor  and  Kearns.  The 
night  was  dark  —  slightly  hazy  and  overcast  —  cor- 
responding in  many  respects,  as  Kearns  noted  with 
joy,  to  the  night  when  the  previous  visitation  had 
taken  place.     To  complete  further  the  resemblance, 

a  ball  was  being  held  in  the  Summer  Palace not 

upon  the  scale  of  magnificence  of  the  preceding  event, 
but  a  Court  ball,  nevertheless,  with  all  the  accessory 
brilliancy  and  gayety. 

Shortly  after  midnight,  the  Professor,  Kearns  and 
Captain  Mortimer  sat  watching  in  the  room  of  the 
Chancellerie  assigned  to  them.  Immediately  next  to 
them,  but  separated  by  a  solid  wall,  was  the  King's 
sleeping  apartment,  in  the  antechamber  of  which 
Captain  Swords  was  on  duty  as  Officer  of  the  Day. 

Not  long  after  midnight  a  messenger  handed  a  note 
to  the  sentinel  at  the  end  of  the  corridor.  It  was 
passed  on  from  sentinel  to  sentinel  until  it  reached 


188        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

Captain  Swords.  It  was  a  delicately  perfumed  little 
missive,  addressed  in  a  large  and  straggling  feminine 
handwriting.     The  Captain  tore  it  open  and  read : 

"  Captain  Swords :  Since  you  have  heen  so  incon- 
siderate as  to  be  on  guard  to-night,  you  might  at  least 
send  Captain  Mortimer  to  dance  one  little  waltz  with 
me.  He,  too,  seems  to  have  disappeared.  If  you 
don't  manage  this  little  favor  for  me,  you  need  never 
speak  to  me  again.  B.  C. 

"  P.  S. — I  am  awfully  disappointed  and  angry. 

"  P.  P.  S. —  I  may  be  at  the  entrance  to  the 
Queen's  Walk  at  fourteen  o'clock  to-morrow,  but  it 
would  be  no  use  for  you  to  try  to  meet  me  there,  be- 
cause I  should  refuse  to  tell  you  anything  interesting 
which  might  have  taken  place  at  the  ball." 

Captain  Swords  smiled  as  he  read,  afterward 
standing  for  a  moment,  reflecting,  with  the  note  be- 
tween his  fingers.  With  the  air  of  a  man  who  has 
suddenly  made  up  his  mind,  he  left  the  antechamber, 
walked  up  the  corridor  past  the  King's  apartment  and 
knocked  lightly  at  the  nearest  door  of  the  Chancellerie 
suite.  Captain  Mortimer  promptly  responded  to  the 
summons  and  a  brief  whispered  conference  took  place 
between  them.  Then  Captain  Mortimer  turned  to 
Kearns  and  whispered : 

"  I  suppose  'twouldn't  do  for  me  to  absent  myself 
for  half  an  hour  —  to  go  downstairs  for  one  dance." 

"  Why  not  ?  "  replied  Kearns.  "  The  King  hasn't 
yet  retired  and  isn't  likely  to  for  some  time.  It's 
certainly  too  early  to  expect  anything.  Go,  by  all 
means,  but  don't  stay  too  long." 

Still  Captain  Mortimer  hesitated. 

"  I  shouldn't  like  by  my  absence  to  spoil  any 
chance,"  he  said. 

"  No  danger,"  answered  Kearns ;  "  besides,  should 


THE  TAP  OF  MILADFS  FAN         189 

anything  happen  unexpectedly,   we  could   summon 
Captain  Swords." 

"  But  he's  on  duty  in  the  King's  antechamber." 
Well,  we  could  immediately  send  for  you  to  take 
his  place." 

'  That  would   be   somewhat  irregular,"   objected 
Captain  Mortimer. 

u  Go,"  insisted  Kearns.  "  You'll  be  perfectly  safe 
in  doing  so,  provided  you  are  back  here  by  the  time 
the  King  retires." 

"  Oh,  long  before  that,"  answered  the  Captain,  and 
off  he  started  for  the  ball-room,  Captain  Swords  re- 
turning to  his  post  of  duty  in  the  antechamber. 

On  reaching  the  ball-room,  Captain  Mortimer  had 
little  difficulty  in  discovering  Beatrice,  seated  between 
Dorothy  Brandon  and  Baroness  Maquehaye.  He 
made  his  way  to  where  they  sat  and,  presenting  him- 
self before  them,  bowed. 

"  I  come  under  orders  from  Captain  Swords,"  he 
said  to  Beatrice,  "  to  act  as  his  proxy  for  this  waltz. 
May  I  have  that  honor  ?  " 

But  the  young  lady  looked  up  at  him  with  large 
and  mischievous  eyes. 

"  I'm  so  angry  with  Captain  Swords,"  she  answered 
severely,  "that  I'll  not  dance  with  him  even  by 
proxy.  I've  decided  to  give  the  waltz  to  Count  d'Ar- 
ville,  of  the  French  Legation.  Ask  Miss  Brandon. 
Perhaps  she  may  take  pity  on  —  Captain  Swords' 
proxy." 

At  these  audacious  words,  Miss  Brandon  turned 
several  colors  and  cast  a  sharp  and  furious  glance 
upon  Beatrice,  who  sat  demurely  looking  up  at  the 
Captain.  Captain  Mortimer  also  glanced  quickly  at 
the  speaker,  but  if  the  glance  conveyed  astonishment 
it  certainly  contained  no  anger.  With  presence  of 
mind,  he  turned  to  Dorothy. 


190        THE  FIEST  AMERICAN  KING 

"  You've  "witnessed  my  discomfiture,"  he  said. 
"  Won't  you  take  pity  on  me  ?  " 

"  As  a  proxy  ?  "  she  asked,  with  an  arch  upward 
flash  of  the  eyes. 

"  As  a  proxy,  or —  as  you  will!  " 

For  answer  she  rose  and  took  his  arm. 

They  gained  their  positions  upon  the  floor;  the 
band  struck  up  the  opening  bars.  Once  more  his 
arm  encircled  her ;  once  more  he  held  her  to  him,  as 
they  glided  around  and  around,  amid  the  maze  of 
waltzers.  Again  he  felt  the  intoxication  of  her  pres- 
ence; the  sweet,  pleasurable  thrill  of  physical  contact 
which  set  heart  and  nerves  a-throb  within  him. 
Through  his  brain  there  flitted  the  wild  phantasy  that 
for  the  mad  joy  of  holding  her  enfolded  in  his  arms, 
her  heart  crushed  against  his  heart,  his  lips  to  her 
lips  —  that  for  one  long  minute  of  such  ecstasy  he 
would  be  willing  to  suffer  instant  annihilation  there- 
after. Then  came  the  thought,  sharp  as  a  sword- 
thrust,  that  perhaps  this  waltz  was  their  last,  their 
eternal  farewell;  that  never  again  might  he  hold  her 
thus.  So  they  danced  on,  the  minutes  seeming  as 
seconds,  until  the  band  played  the  final  bar  and  the 
waltz  was  at  an  end. 

Half-dazed,  he  started  to  lead  her  back  to  her  seat, 
but  with  a  gentle  restraining  pressure  upon  his  arm, 
she  stopped  him. 

"  I  don't  want  to  return  yet,"  she  said,  and  the  look 
she  gave  him  was  half-beseeching,  half-imperious. 
"  Let  us  walk  around  a  little.  You  don't  mind,  do 
you?" 

Mind !  What  was  he  not  willing  to  pay  for  every 
additional  moment  that  gave  him  her  gracious  pres- 


ence 


He  did  not  —  he  could  not  —  answer,  but  he  in- 
stantly turned  and  with  her  on  his  arm,  walked  in  the 


THE  TAP  OF  MILADI'S  FAN         191 

opposite  direction.  There  was  too  much  crowding 
upon  the  floor  for  comfortable  walking ;  mechanically, 
without  intention  on  his  part,  he  made  his  way  to  the 
entrance  to  the  great  conservatory  and  they  passed  in, 

"  I  suppose  this  is  the  last  place  I  should  seek/7 
he  said,  at  last  finding  speech  and  scarce  knowing 
what  he  was  saying. 

"  Why  ?  "  she  asked  archly. 

"  A  soldier,  you  know,  seldom  cares  to  revisit  the 
scene  of  a  reverse,"  he  said. 

"  I  have  read  somewhere,"  she  answered  demurely, 
"  that  all  great  soldiers  seek  to  retrieve  a  reverse,  and 
Captain  Mortimer,  it  is  said,  is  a  great  soldier." 

"  I  thank  you  for  the  compliment,"  he  answered 
with  some  embarrassment ;  "  but  I  fear  you  are 
amusing  yourself  at  my  expense." 

"  One  doesn't  amuse  oneself,"  she  answered 
gravely,  "  at  the  expense  of  those  who  wear  that 
Order,"  and  she  touched  lightly  with  her  gloved 
finger-tips  the  Columbia  Cross  glittering  upon  his 
breast.  "  You  must  tell  me  some  day  the  story  of 
how  that  was  won,"  she  continued  in  a  low  voice. 
"I'd  like  to  hear  the  details  from  your  own  lips." 

"  I  fear  narration  is  not  my  strong  point,"  he 
answered,  again  evincing  embarrassment.  "  Be- 
sides," he  added  hastily,  "  the  credit  of  that  affair 
really  belonged  most  largely  to  the  dearest  fellow  on 
earth  —  my  comrade,  Ralph  Swords." 

"  I've  heard  of  Captain  Swords'  connection  with 
that  affair,"  said  Dorothy  dryly ;  "  but  I  don't  al- 
ways believe  quite  all  I  hear." 

"No?" 

"  No,"  she  replied,  "  just  as  people  sometimes 
say  things  they  don't  fully  mean,  I  suppose.  For  in- 
stance,"  she  continued   with   meaning,    "  indelicate 


192        THE  FIEST  AMERICAN  KING 

and  careless  remarks  in  the  excitement  of  play  at 
baccarat !  " 

"  Indelicate  and  careless  remarks  —  baccarat !  " 
he  repeated,  with  evident  wonderment.  "  I  realize  I 
am  stupid,  but  I  don't  understand." 

She  turned  her  great  eyes  upon  his  face  and  as  she 
saw  the  perplexity  there  her  heart  gave  a  joyful  leap. 
Long  ago  she  had  to  herself  fully  exonerated  him 
and  had  pitilessly  condemned  herself  for  having  ever 
entertained  a  single  doubt.  Now,  it  seemed,  the  en- 
tire story  of  the  infamous  Brooke  was  a  falsehood 
woven  out  of  whole  cloth.  Still,  with  the  spirit  of 
inquisition  natural  to  womankind,  she  determined  to 
probe  the  entire  matter  to  the  bitter  end. 

"  Yes ;  at  baccarat,  I  said,"  she  answered  gayly. 
"  Weren't  you  with  the  Tenth  before  you  came  to 
the  Guards?" 

"  Yes,"  he  answered,  wondering  what  was  coming 
next. 

"  And  the  Tenth  were  sorry  gamblers,  were  they 
not  ?  "  she  persisted.  "  Was  there  not  a  great  deal  of 
baccarat  playing  toward  the  close  of  the  season  at 
Oldport?" 

"  I  don't  know  whether  I  ought  to  disclose  the 
secrets  of  the  mess-room,"  he  replied ;  "  but  I  don't 
mind  admitting  what  was  generally  known  and 
talked  about.  Your  information  is  quite  correct,  I 
regret  to  say." 

"You  regret?"  she  asked.  "Why?  It  is 
rumored  that  Captain  Mortimer  was  one  of  the  most 
assiduous  devotees." 

"  Then  rumor  falsifies,"  he  answered  gravely ; 
"  for  I  disapprove  upon  military  grounds  of  all 
forms  of  gambling  in  military  quarters.  I  never 
-played  baecarat  in  a  regimental  mess-room  in  my 
life." 


THE  TAP  OF  MILADI'S  FAX         193 

She  gave  a  little  cry  of  astonishment  and  joy. 
Complete,  indeed,  was  this  refutation  of  the  tale  of 
the  Brooke ! 

"  Why,"  she  exclaimed,  with  the  inconsequence  of 
a  true  woman,  "  why  did  you  never  tell  me  this 
before  ? " 

"  Tell  you  before !  "  he  repeated.  "  Why  should 
I?" 

"  Never  mind,"  she  answered,  panting,  "  I'm 
still  quite  angry  with  you." 

"  Angry  ?  "  he  asked,  perturbed.  "  Why  ?  Be- 
cause I  haven't  played  baccarat  ?  " 

"  No,  no,"  she  retorted  impatiently.  "  Because 
you  are  so  credulous." 

"  Credulous  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  she  replied  petulantly.  "  What  was  that 
interesting  story  told  to  you  at  the  last  ball  regard- 
ing a  certain  lady  who  shall  be  nameless  %  A  story 
which  you  accepted  and  believed,  I  suppose !  "  she 
added  indignantly. 

He  stared  straight  ahead  and  made  no  reply. 

"  Oh,  it  was  told  to  you  in  strictest  confidence,  I 
presume  ?  "  she  pouted. 

'  "  That  which  I'm  told  in  confidence  I  make  a 
point  of  forgetting  I've  ever  heard,"  he  replied, 
fencing.    "  You  surely  will  not  blame  me  ?  " 

"  That's  doubtless  right,"  she  admitted ;  "  but  let 
me  say,"  she  added  with  meaning,  "  the  waters  of  a 
certain  Brooke  may  babble  not  only  unceasingly,  but 
also  very  falsely.  Will  you  bear  that  in  mind  if  you 
should  remember  a  certain  confidence  ?  " 

"  You're  not  angry  with  me  ?  "  he  pleaded. 

"  Very  little,"  she  answered ;  "  in  fact,  so  little 
that  you  may  have  the  next  waltz  —  if  you  care 
for  it." 

A  troubled  look  came  into  his  face. 

13 


194        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

"  I  fear  I  can't,"  he  replied  with  disappointment. 
"  I'm  on  duty  and  must  return  at  once." 

"  On  duty !  "  she  exclaimed ;  "  why,  I  understood 
Captain  Swords  was  on  guard  to-night  ?  " 

"Yes,"  he  replied,  "he  is;  but  I'm  on  special 
duty  —  a  scouting  expedition,  I  might  say." 

"  A  scouting  expedition  !  "  she  repeated.  "  You 
speak  as  if  it  were  a  time  of  war.    Tell  me  about  it." 

"  I  can't,"  he  answered  reluctantly.  "  I  am 
pledged  upon  honor  not  to  speak  of  it." 

Her  blue  eyes  opened  wide  in  mingled  astonish- 
ment and  concern. 

"  If  there  is  so  much  secrecy,"  she  said  slowly,  "  it 
must  be  a  matter  of  importance.  Is  there  any 
danger  to  —  to  —  you  ?  " 

"  I  could  hardly  say  there  is,"  he  answered  lightly. 
"  Call  it  an  interesting  little  adventure  —  nothing 
more  serious  than  that." 

But  she  was  not  lightly  to  be  put  aside. 

"  On  your  honor,  is  there  no  danger  ?  " 

"  None  that  I  know  of,"  he  answered  reassur- 
ingly. 

"That  you  know  of?"  she  repeated.  "  Then  you 
can't  tell." 

"  No,"  he  admitted,  "  the  circumstances  are  so 
novel  —  so  unusual  —  I  can't  tell." 

They  had  reached  a  secluded  part  of  the  great  con- 
servatory and  stood  facing  each  other,  she  with 
downcast  eyes,  he  looking  down  upon  her  with  rapt 
admiration. 

"  I  must  return,"  he  whispered ;  "  although  never 
did  I  go  to  duty  so  unwillingly." 

She  took  his  arm  and  they  walked  slowly  back 
toward  the  ball-room. 

"Why  so  silent?"  he  whispered  to  her  as  they 
walked. 


THE  TAP  OF  MILADFS  FAN         195 

She  sighed. 

"  I  have  a  foreboding,"  she  answered  sadly,  "  that 
this  undertaking  —  this  secret  expedition  of  which 
you  cannot  speak  —  is  one  of  difficulty  and  of 
danger." 

"  No,  no,"  he  answered  cheerily ;  "  you're  mis- 
taken. But,"  he  added  in  a  low  voice,  "  were  it  so, 
would  you  care  ?  " 

For  answer,  she  looked  upward  and  her  glance  met 
his.  Softly  he  whispered  to  her  and  more  softly  still 
came  her  whispered  reply  —  a  reply  that  brought  the 
light  to  his  eyes  and  the  hot  flush  of  joy  to  his  cheeks. 

It  was  with  that  light  in  his  eyes,  that  color  in  his 
cheeks,  they  passed  out  of  the  conservatory  into  the 
ball-room.  Not  ten  paces  from  them  as  they  en- 
tered stood  a  man  wearing  the  uniform  of  the  Im- 
perial Guard.  As  they  walked,  he  looked  after  them, 
with  black  brows  bent  and  an  expression  in  the  dark 
face  that  was  not  good  to  look  upon.  He  turned 
sharply  at  a  tap  from  a  lady's  fan  upon  his  arm,  the 
scowl  still  upon  his  face. 

"Ah,  Lady  Brooke!" 

"  A  word  with  you,  Milord  Ashley,"  she  said. 

He  led  her  aside  and  they  stood  for  some  minutes 
engaged  in  conversation. 

"  I'll  do  it,"  he  said  to  her  as  she  was  about  to 
pass  on.     "  You  may  count  upon  my  managing  it." 

"  And  you  may  count  upon  me,"  she  answered, 
"  to  repair  matters  when  the  proper  time  comes.  As 
you  are  aware,  I  still  have  some  influence  with  His 
Majesty." 

Lord  Ashley  bowed  low. 

"  Bepair,  eh !  "  he  muttered  under  his  black  mus- 
tache when  she  had  gone,  "  if  you'll  consult  the  past, 
Milady,  you'll  find  that  when  I've  finished  with 
those  who  cross  my  path,  there's  little  left  to  repair ! 


196        THE  FIKST  AMERICAN  KING 

Your  suggestion  is  good,  though,  Milady !  You  cer- 
tainly are  a  born  intrigante.  An  excellent  sugges- 
tion, indeed !  And  I'll  lose  no  time  in  carrying  it 
out!" 


CHAPTER  XVII 

WHEN  GKEEK  MEETS  GREEK 

A  last,  lingering  pressure  of  the  hand,  a  hasty 
exit  from  the  ball-room  and  Captain  Mortimer  hur- 
ried back  to  his  post  of  duty.  He  reached  the  corri- 
dor, returned  the  salutes  of  the  three  sentinels  as 
he  passed,  and  went  into  the  antechamber.  He 
stopped  for  several  minutes'  conversation  with  Cap- 
tain Swords  and  then  made  his  way  to  the  first  door 
of  the  Chancellerie  suite.  A  light  tap  and  the  door 
was  opened  by  Kearns. 

"  Back  in  good  time,  I  hope !  "  whispered  the 
Captain. 

"  In  plenty  of  time,"  Kearns  whispered  in  return, 
as  he  hastily  closed  the  door.  "  I'm  glad  you  went. 
It's  not  very  interesting  sitting  here  in  the  dark, 
without  even  the  privilege  of  a  comforting  cigar. 
Still,  I've  had  a  few  experiences  of  the  kind  before." 

Captain  Mortimer  removed  his  sword  and  stored 
it  away  in  the  air-ship.  It  was  a  strict  military  reg- 
ulation that  officers  should  appear  abroad  only  in 
uniform  and  wearing  their  swords. 

"  I'd  suggest,"  he  said  as  he  took  his  seat  beside 
them,  "  that  it  might  help  pass  the  time  if  Mr. 
Kearns  would  tell  us  some  of  the  many  interesting 
experiences  he  doubtless  had  in  his  time.  The  dark- 
ness here  will  lend  an  additional  thrill.  What  say 
you,  Professor  ? " 

"  We'll  get  enough  thrills  before  we're  through 
with  this   adventure,   provided  our  friend   Kearns' 

197 


198        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

theory    is    correct,"    replied    the    Professor    dryly; 
••  still,  if  he'll  tell  a  story,  I'll  be  glad  to  listen." 

"  No,  no ;"  protested  Kearns ;  "  all  my  interest  is 
centered  in  that  park  and  in  watching  for  what  may 
come  from  over  those  tree-tops.     Ah,  listen !  " 

As  he  spoke  there  came  three  faint,  but  distinct, 
taps  on  the  door;  then  a  pause,  followed  by  four 
similar  taps. 

It  was  the  agreed  signal  which  Captain  Swords 
was  to  give  when  the  King  retired. 

"  From  now  on  we  may  expect  something,"  re- 
marked the  Professor. 

"  Interesting  but  scientifically  inaccurate,"  re- 
torted Kearns.  "  Before  long  we  may  expect,  but 
not  just  yet.  You  must  allow  for  some  time  after 
the  retirement  of  the  King  before  you  can  expect  any 
manifestations.  It's  now  fully  an  hour  earlier  than 
the  time  of  the  preceding  visit." 

"  Quite  so,"  replied  the  Professor ;  "  still  I'll 
wager,  for  all  that,  you  wouldn't  care  to  have  us  go 
to  sleep  during  the  next  hour." 

''Right  you  are,"  assented  Kearns;  "one  can 
never  be  quite  sure  what  may  happen.  Those  fel- 
lows, whoever  they  may  be,  seem  to  know  pretty 
well  what  takes  place  in  the  palace.  They  doubtless 
have  a  confederate,  or  confederates,  on  the  inside." 

"  You  think  so  ?  "  said  Captain  Mortimer.  "  Have 
you  made  any  efforts  to  discover  ?  " 

"  None  whatever,"  answered  Kearns.  "  I've  been 
too  busy  with  other  matters.  I'm  after  the  main 
quarry.  The  subordinate  details,  if  necessary,  can 
be  attended  to  later." 

This  seemed  sound  reasoning  and  neither  of  the 
others  ventured  a  reply.  The  moments  slowly 
passed.  They  sat  there  in  the  darkness  exchanging 
only  occasional  whispers.     They  heard  the  chime  of 


WHEN  GREEK  MEETS  GREEK       199 

one  of  the  palace  clocks  —  an  hour  had  passed  and 
still  nothing.  Again  the  clock  chimed;  it  was  the 
quarter.  The  sound  had  barely  died  away  in  the 
darkness  of  the  summer  night,  when  Kearns  laid  a 
light  touch  upon  the  Professor's  arm. 

"At  last!" 

The  three  bent  their  heads  together. 

"  Look  upward  —  to  the  right !  "  came  the  low 
whisper. 

They  strained  their  eyes  in  the  direction  indicated. 
Faintly  seen  in  the  darkness  was  a  shadowy  some- 
thing, the  outline  of  some  black  object  floating  in  the 
air. 

"  Steady !  "  whispered  Kearns,  in  an  ever  so  faint 
whisper.  "  Not  a  move  till  I  give  the  word !  " 

The  dark  object,  though  still  indistinct,  became 
gradually  more  clearly  outlined.  It  crossed  at  some 
little  distance  out  and  above  their  window,  passed 
the  windows  of  the  King's  apartment  and  was  lost  to 
their  view  opposite  the  window  of  the  antechamber 
where  the  King's  officer  on  duty  kept  guard. 

"  An  air-ship  —  an  air-ship,  sure  enough,"  whis- 
pered the  Professor.  "  And  apparently  painted  dead 
black." 

"  Quite  so,"  replied  Kearns,  "  but  this  time  we'll 
match  your  gray  one  against  the  black.  Great  Scott ! 
To  think  that  I'm  not  in  the  race." 

Several  minutes  parsed  and  the  ship  did  not  re- 
appear. 

"My  God!"  exclaimed  Captain  Mortimer,  "you 
haven't  allowed  them  to  escape  us  ?  " 

"  Hush,  no !  "  answered  Kearns ;  "  do  not  fear. 
They're  cute  ones.  They're  scouting  and  '11  surely 
return." 

The  whispered  words  had  hardly  left  his  lips  when 


200        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

the  air-ship  reappeared.  This  time  it  halted  in  a  line 
with  the  King's  window. 

"Steady  and  quiet!"  said  Kearns.  "The  time 
has  come." 

Quickly,  silently  they  rose  and  took  their  positions 
in  the  air-ship,  as  it  lay  upon  its  rests.  Stealthily 
Kearns  crept  to  the  window  and  with  one  turn  of  the 
well-oiled  and  carefully  prepared  machinery,  the 
entire  bay  window  curved  outward,  leaving  a  wide 
opening.  Through  this  gap,  the  launch-like  air-ship 
skilfully  guided  by  the  Professor,  gracefully  slid 
into  the  night.  Rapid  as  had  been  these  movements, 
they  were  not  more  rapid  than  those  of  the  attacking 
party.  As  the  window  flew  back  and  the  prow  of  the 
air-ship  passed  out,  the  Professor  and  Mortimer  saw 
them  loosen  their  mooring,  turn  about  and  away.  By 
the  time  the  opening  had  been  cleared,  the  pursued 
were  several  lengths  in  the  lead,  but  the  royal  air-ship 
was  following  hot  in  their  wake. 

High  over  the  tree-tops  of  the  park  they  flew  and 
on  and  on  until  they  reached  the  river.  Thus  far 
they  had  maintained  their  respective  distances, 
neither  apparently  gaining  or  losing. 

"  Turn  on  the  flash-light !  "  called  out  the  Profes- 
sor, "  or  we  may  lose  them  in  the  darkness." 

An  instant  later  a  bright  stream  of  light  shot  forth 
from  the  prow  of  the  "  Royal  Dean,"  flooding  with  its 
radiance  the  pursued. 

Captain  Mortimer  and  the  Professor  saw  that  the 
craft  before  them  was  slightly  larger  than  their  own, 
of  a  dead  black  color  and  contained  three  men. 

"  Ahoy,  there !  "  came  a  moment  later  the  hail 
from  the  pursued.  "  Who  are  you  ?  What  company 
do  you  belong  to  ?  " 

Captain  Mortimer  rose  to  his  feet. 

"  Halt !  "  he  commanded. 


WHEN  GREEK  MEETS  GREEK       201 

At  sight  of  his  uniform  in  the  glare  of  the  search- 
light, there  seemed  to  be  a  sudden  consternation 
among  the  pursued.  Their  air-ship  shot  upward  to 
greater  heights.  Instantly  the  Professor  handled  his 
levers  and  followed.  A  hurried  conference  between 
the  pursued  seemed  to  be  taking  place. 

Captain  Mortimer  picked  up  a  repeating  rifle  from 
the  floor  of  the  air-ship. 

■  "  Surrender!  "  he  shouted,  his  voice  ringing  strong 
and  clear;  "  surrender,  you  rebels,  in  the  name  of  the 
King !  " 

No  attention  was  given  to  this  summons.  The  pur- 
sued kept  steadily  on,  heading  toward  the  north. 

"  Halt !  "    again   commanded    Captain   Mortimer 
raising  his  rifle.     "  Halt,  or  I  fire !  " 

For  answer  to  this,  a  man  appeared  in  the  stern  of 
the  pursued  bearing  before  him  a  bowed  shield. 
From  the  ease  with  which  he  handled  it,  it  was  ap- 
parently very  light  but  doubtless  strong  enough  to 
withstand  a  bullet.  There  was  a  steel  projection  at 
the  base  of  this  shield  and,  in  the  light  of  the  flash- 
light, they  saw  him  drop  this  projection  into  a  socket. 
The  shield  was  thus  held  in  place  and  the  occupants 
of  the  air-ship  protected  from  any  pistol,  or  rifle  fire 
from  the  rear. 

It  was  a  revelation  to  the  pursuers.  The  attacking 
party  was  not  only  furnished  as  an  aerial  scout,  but 
was  furthermore  equipped  as  a  species  of  armored 
aerial  cruiser.  The  Professor  drew  his  companion's 
attention  to  this  fact. 

'Yes,"  answered  Captain  Mortimer,  ''and  if 
they  were  supplied  with  means  of  offense,  such  as 
repeating  rifles,  they  would  be  not  only  an  aerial 
cruiser,  but  a  very  effective  aerial  man-of-war.  Do 
you  think  there's  any  vital  part  of  their  craft,  so  that 
I  'could  disable  them  with  a  bullet  ?  " 


202        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

"  Our  craft  could  uot  be  so  disabled,"  answered 
the  Professor ;  "  neither,  so  far  as  I  can  judge,  could 
theirs  be." 

"  Then  we  must  flank  them,"  said  Captain  Morti- 
mer, "  and  try  to  bring  them  to  terms  in  that  way." 

"  Very  well,"  answered  the  Professor ;  "  I'll  see 
what  I  can  do." 

He  accordingly  endeavored  to  navigate  his  craft 
to  a  position  on  their  left  quarter,  but  the  pursued 
were  wary  and  quickly  shifted,  keeping  the  protect- 
ing shield  between  themselves  and  the  pursuers.  At 
last,  by  clever  manceuvering,  the-  Professor  had 
almost  succeeded,  when  up  went  another  shield,  ef- 
fectually protecting  a  large  section  of  that  quarter. 

"  It's  no  use,"  exclaimed  Mortimer,  laying  down 
the  rifle ;  "  it's  a  veritable  armored  cruiser.  No  mat- 
ter what  quarter  we  flank  them  on,  they  undoubtedly 
have  enough  shields  to  protect  all  sides.  By  heaven  ! 
they  seem  to  be  drawing  away  from  us." 

"  Yes ;  they've  certainly  increased  the  distance  be- 
tween us  somewhat,"  assented  the  Professor,  "  but 
they're  not  as  far  away  as  they  were  a  few  minutes 
ago.  I  don't  understand  it.  They  seem  to  gain  and 
then  we  seem  to  creep  up  on  them  a  little.  Perhaps 
this  may  be  due  to  certain  effects  of  the  air  currents, 
but  it  is  decidedly  peculiar." 

Captain  Mortimer  made  no  reply.  He  sat  watch- 
ing the  pursued  craft,  distinctly  outlined  in  the  rays 
of  the  flash-light.  On  and  on  they  rushed  at  top- 
most speed  through  the  yielding  air,  grown  raw  and 
chilly.  The  first  streaks  of  light  began  to  flicker  in 
the  east.  The  pursued  now  rose  to  still  greater  alti- 
tudes, until  the  air  became  uncomfortably  rarified. 
The  Professor  manipulated  his  levers  and  the  pur- 
suers followed. 


WHEX  GREEK  MEETS  GREEK       203 

"  What  are  they  up  to  now  ?  "  asked  Captain  Mort- 
imer.    "  Trying  to  dodge  ns  ?  " 

"  Perhaps,"  answered  the  Professor.  "  It  looks 
more  to  me  as  if  they  were  trying  to  keep  out  of  sight 
of  land  as  the  daylight  comes." 

"  Any  chance  of  our  giving  out  ?  " 

"  No ;  we  can  keep  this  up  for  many  hours  vet." 

"  And  they  8  " 

"  I  don't  know.  Judging  from  the  qualities  they 
have  shown  so  far,  it's  best  to  assume  they  are  fully 
as  well  equipped  as  we." 

"  What  are  the  prospects  of  overtaking  them  \  " 

"  !Not  very  favorable,  I  should  say,"  replied  the 
Professor.  "  We've  been  going  at  our  topmost  ever 
since  we  started  and  yet  we  haven't  gained  upon  them. 
In  fact,  they've  gained  a  trifle  on  us.  You  see,  they 
are  somewhat  larger  and  probably  have  more  power. 
As  it  is,  I  am  astonished  we  haven't  lost  them  before 
now." 

"  What's  the  likelihood  of  our  losing  them  alto- 
gether \ " 

"  I  can't  say,"  replied  the  Professor,  "  but  our 
chances  against  losing  them  improve  every  minute  as 
the  light  comes  on.  We'll  soon  be  able  to  at  least  keep 
them  in  sight  for  a  very  great  distance.  You  may 
shut  off  the  flash-light  now." 

"  There's  nothing  you  can  suggest  ?  " 

"  Nothing,"  answered  the  Professor.  "  Under  ex- 
isting conditions,  there  are  only  two  courses  open 
to  us." 

"  And  they  are  ?  " 

u  Either  to  keep  on  as  we  are  doing,  or  give  it  up 
as  a  bad  job." 

"Give  up!"  exclaimed  Mortimer  in  a  disgusted 
tone.     "  I'm  unalterably  opposed  to  that.    We  started 


204        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

out  to  follow  them,  and  follow  them  we  will  until 
either  this  air-ship  gives  out   or  we  overtake  them." 

"  Or  we  lose  sight  of  them,"  suggested  the  Profes- 
sor. 

"  Or  we  lose  sight  of  them,"  assented  Mortimer 
grudgingly ;  "  but  I  trust  you'll  do  your  best  to  avoid 
that." 

"  You  may  count  upon  it  that  I  will,"  answered 
the  Professor  stoutly. 

"  Besides,"  continued  Mortimer,  "  they  can't  keep 
this  up  forever.  They're  making  for  some  point  and 
some  time  or  other  they  must  effect  a  landing.  Then 
it  will  become  interesting.  Hello !  what  are  they 
up  to  now  ?  " 

"  They  are  descending.  See !  they  are  increasing 
the  distance  between  us,  too." 

k>  If  they  descend,  it  will  give  me  a  chance  to  pot 
them  from  above,"  suggested  the  Captain,  again  tak- 
ing up  the  rifle. 

"  It  seems  awful  to  fire  upon  them,"  exclaimed  the 
Professor  wistfully ;  "  especially  as  they  are  not  offer- 
ing us  any  attack,  but  are  only  seeking  to  escape." 

"  Fire  upon  them !  "  cried  Mortimer  warmly ;  "  I 
may  fire,  but  I  have  certainly  no  intention  of  hitting 
them.  I  would,  though,  send  the  bullets  sufficiently 
close  to  make  matters  look  serious  and  possibly  stop 
them.  But  to  shoot  men  in  cold  blood  —  never  !  I 
am  an  American  soldier,  sir,  of  the  twentieth  century 
and  we've  nothing  in  common,  thank  God !  with  the 
assassins  of  your  day  —  the  butchers  of  Little  Knee 
and  the  murderers  of  gallant  Sitting  Bull." 

"  Sitting  Bull!  "  exclaimed  Professor  Dean,  with 
astonishment,  "  so  he  has  passed  down  in  history  as 
one  of  the  legendary  heroes  and  a  reproach  to  the  men 
of  my  day." 

"  Very   decidedly,"    answered   Mortimer.      "  You 


WHEN  GREEK  MEETS  GREEK       205 

should  read  Goodrow's  history  on  the  subject  and 
Krebiel's  noble  poem,  '  The  Death  of  Sitting  Bull.'  " 

"  History  is  certainly  a  strange  thing,"  commented 
the  Professor.  "  Argument  is  somewhat  difficult  at 
this  altitude ;  besides,  I've  these  pesky  levers  to  look 
after.  I  should  like  to  take  up  that  subject  with  you 
later,  though.  By  the  way,  do  they  still  play  a  game 
called  '  poker  '  these  days  ?  " 

"  My  dear  Professor,"  answered  Mortimer,  "  the 
American  game  of  poker  is  immortal." 

"  And  they  still  bluff  at  the  game  ?  " 

"  Probably  more  so  than  ever." 

"  You'll  not  have  an  opportunity  of  trying  the  bluff 
you  spoke  of,"  said  the  Professor,  as  he  nodded 
toward  the  pursued.  "  See  the  protecting  shield  go 
up." 

Mortimer  looked  and  saw  a  shield  had  been  so 
adjusted  as  to  at  least  partially  protect  the  air-ship 
from  an  attack  from  above. 

"  A  cunning  set !  "  commented  Mortimer. 

"  That's  what  our  friend  Keams  said  they  were," 
replied  the  Professor.  "  I  suppose  we  had  best  fol- 
low them  and  return  toward  earth." 

Again  the  Professor  juggled  with  his  levers  and 
they  shot  rapidly  downward. 

"  There's  something  else  going  on  there,"  remarked 
Mortimer  as  he  eyed  the  pursued.     "  What  is  it  %  " 

They  had  descended  many  hundreds  of  feet.  A 
number  of  mountain  tops,  apparently  forming  part  of 
an  extensive  range,  were  more  or  less  indistinctly  out- 
lined below. 

"  Mountains  ?  "  commented  the  Professor. 

"  Yes,"  said  Mortimer,  "  and  from  the  general  lay 
of  the  land  I  should  say  the  heart  of  the  Adiron- 
dacks.  But  what  are  they  doing  there  ? "  he  in- 
quired eagerly,  pointing  to  the  pursued,  who  were 


206        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

maneuvering  with  some  instrument  projecting  over 
one  of  their  quarters. 

The  Professor  watched  closely  for  some  minutes. 

"  It's  some  signaling  instrument,"  he  said  at  last. 
"  They  are  signaling  the  land." 


BOOK   III 

IN  THE  HANDS  OF  THE  ENEMY 


CHAPTER  I 

"  WHO     AKE     YOU  " 

The  movements  of  the  pursued  craft,  which  Pro- 
fessor Dean  described  as  signals,  continued  for  only 
a  short  time  and  then  once  more  the  pursued  rose  to 
a  great  altitude.  The  "  Royal  Dean  "  tenaciously 
followed. 

"  I  thought  we  were  going  back  to  earth,  but  now 
it  seems  that  we  are  heaven-bound,"  remarked  the 
Professor. 

"  Whether  they  make  for  heaven  or  the  other 
place,  we'll  follow  them  as  long  as  there  is  a  follow 
left  in  us,"  answered  Mortimer  grimly. 

For  some  twenty  miles  the  mysterious  craft  kept 
its  way,  then,  still  at  the  same  altitude,  suddenly 
described  a  great  semicircle,  and  laid  a  course  due 
south. 

"  What  are  they  up  to  now  \  "  questioned  Morti- 
mer. 

"  Blessed  if  I  know,"  replied  the  Professor.  "  It 
looks  very  much  as  if  we  were  going  back  the  way  we 
came. 

"  Curious !  "  commented  Mortimer.  "  I  suppose 
we  can  only  follow  and  await  developments." 

207 


208        THE  FIKST  AMERICAN  KING 

"  That's  all,"  assented  the  Professor. 

The  opinion  expressed  by  Professor  Dean  that 
they  were  returning  over  practically  the  same  course 
proved  to  be  correct.  Back  they  went  for  some 
twenty  miles,  and  then  the  pursued  began  to  descend, 
followed,  of  course,  by  their  obstinate  pursuers. 

The  occupants  of  "  The  Royal  Dean  "  perceived 
they  were  dropping  into  a  great  valley,  shut  in  on 
all  sides  by  towering  mountain  tops. 

"  It  seems  we  are  to  make  a  landing  at  last,"  re- 
marked Mortimer,  scanning  the  valley  beneath. 

There  was  no  reply  to  this  remark.  Mortimer 
turned  leisurely  to  address  the  Professor  again,  but 
was  startled  to  see  the  latter  staring  with  dilated 
eyes  into  space. 

"  See !  "  he  gasped.     "  There !     Ah,  and  there !  " 

Mortimer  looked  in  the  direction  indicated  and 
was  dumbfounded  to  perceive  to  the  westward,  slight- 
ly above  them,  another  air-ship  bearing  down. 

"  Look  over  there ! "  exclaimed  the  Professor, 
pointing  to  the  East. 

Mortimer  shifted  his  glance  to  another  air-ship. 
An  instant  later  two  more  appeared,  the  one  to  the 
North  and  the  other,  beyond  the  line  of  the  pursued 
air-ship,  to  the  South. 

"  We're  surrounded,"  gasped  the  Professor, 
amazed.  "  What'll  we  do  ?  Try  to  escape  \  I  fear, 
though,  it  will  be  useless,  judging  from  the  speed 
which  I  see  they  develop." 

"  Useless  or  not,"  replied  Mortimer  obstinately, 
"  we  started  out  to  follow  that  air-ship  and  follow  it 
we  will  to  the  bitter  end." 

Even  as  they  spoke,  the  four  air-ships  were  rapidly 
closing  in  upon  them  and  they  could  see  that  they 
were  several  times  the  size  of  the  "  Royal  Dean  " 
and  that  they  carried  a  number  of  men.     As  they 


"  WHO  ARE  YOU  "  209 

drew  nearer,  they  saw  what  appeared  to  be  miniature 
cannon  protruding  from  their  quarters.  An  instant 
later  the  air-ship  to  the  West  came  within  hailing  dis- 
tance. A  man  stepped  to  the  prow  and  shouted 
something  which  they  did  not  clearly  hear. 

"  They  evidently  want  to  speak  to  us,"  said  Dean, 
and  he  slowed  down  and  came  to  a  stop. 

The  air-ship  to  the  West  also  checked  its  speed,  but 
still  kept  slowly  approaching.  The  other  three  air- 
ships were  fast  closing  in. 

"  Why  did  you  stop  ?  "  asked  Mortimer  with  some 
annoyance.  "  We  don't  want  to  let  those  fellows 
get  away  from  us."  He  nodded  in  the  direction  of 
the  pursued. 

"  No  fear,"  answered  the  Professor.  "  They  are 
descending  straight  into  the  valley." 

"  Hello !  "  shouted  Mortimer  to  the  air-ship  to  the 
West. 

"  Hello !  "  came  back  the  answer.  "  Who  are 
you  ? " 

"  His  Majesty's  air-ship,  the  "  Royal  Dean,"  re- 
plied Mortimer,  adding  with  an  aside  and  a  chuckle 
to  the  Professor :     "  How's  that  ?  " 

The  reply  appeared  to  exercise  a  strange  effect 
upon  the  men  addressed.  The  man  in  the  bow  turned 
to  those  behind  him  and  a  brief  parley  seemed  to 
ensue.  Finally  he  turned  about  and  again  hailed 
them. 

"  You  are  our  prisoners !  "  he  shouted. 

"  Prisoners  !  "  roared  back  Mortimer.  "  By  what 
authority  do  you  dare  thus  address  an  officer  of  the 
King's  Guard  ? " 

All  four  air-ships  had  now  drawn  quite  close  and 
had  come  to  a  stop.  All  were  drifting  in  the  air 
currents. 

14 


210        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

"  Authority !  "  called  back  the  spokesman. 
"  You'll  learn  that  later.     Surrender!  " 

Mortimer  was  standing  in  the  extreme  bow  of  the 
air-ship.     He  turned  to  his  companion. 

"  Professor,  hand  me  that  rifle." 

Professor  Dean  bent  forward  and  picked  up  the 
rifle  from  the  floor  of  the  air-ship.  As  he  rose  with 
the  weapon  in  his  hand  there  came  a  warning  shout 
from  the  spokesman. 

"  Fire  one  shot,"  he  cried,  "  and  we  will  blow  you 
to  the  moon  !  " 

''You  scoundrels!"  called  back  Mortimer,  "try 
it !  "  And  he  turned  to  the  Professor,  holding  out 
his  hand  for  the  rifle. 

The  Professor  calmly  drew  back  and  dropped  it 
over  the  side  of  the  air-ship. 

"  What  have  you  done  —  what  have  you  done?" 
cried  Mortimer  furiously. 

"Saved  you  from  yourself!"  replied  his  com- 
panion coolly.  "  I  don't  mind  your  fighting  when 
you  have  half  a  chance,  but  to  resist  here  is  sheer  mad- 
ness." 

Captain  Mortimer  paused  an  instant,  hesitatingly. 

"  I  suppose  you're  entitled  to  some  consideration  in 
this  matter,"  he  said  sulkily.  "  There  may  be  some 
truth  in  what  you  say.  Perhaps  I  .can  best  aid  the 
cause  I  serve  by  exercising  diplomacy  for  the  moment 
and  biding  my  time." 

"  Now  you're  talking  concentrated  sense,"  replied 
the  Professor.  "  That's  the  proper  way  to  look  at 
it." 

As  he  spoke,  the  air-ship  on  either  side  had  drawn 
close  in  upon  them.  Each  of  these  air-ships  threw 
out  a  long,  powerful  prong,  resembling  a  giant  boat- 
hook,  and  held  "  The  Royal  Dean  "  securely.  Words 
of  command  rang  out  and  an  instant  later  the  two  air- 


"WHO  ARE  YOU"  211 

ships  began  descending  at  moderate  speed  to  the  val- 
ley below,  drawing  down  the  captive  craft  between 
them.  Mortimer  picked  up  his  sword  and  buckled 
it  about  his  waist.  The  Professor  was  silent.  Both 
stood  in  their  respective  positions,  expectant  and  alert 
but  offering  no  further  resistance. 

They  reached  the  bottom  of  the  valley  and  gently 
grounded  upon  tufted  grass.  As  they  did  so,  the  cap- 
tives glanced  about  and  saw  that  they  were  sur- 
rounded by  a  number  of  rough-looking  men,  who  had 
evidently  been  awaiting  the  landing.  They  also  saw 
with  some  astonishment  that  in  the  forward  rank 
stood  a  young  woman,  jauntily  attired  in  a  natty 
hunting  costume.  A  short  skirt  of  some  dark  mate- 
rial fell  over  a  pair  of  high-laced  russet  shoes  and  a 
pert  red  feather  peeped  forth  from  the  saucy  little 
hat  which  covered  her  short  black  curls.  As  she 
stood  watching  the  captives,  her  cheeks  flushed  with 
excitement  and  her  black  eyes  sparkling,  she  pre- 
sented a  remarkably  pretty  picture  of  a  brunette  of 
the  slender,  sinuous  type. 

There  were  hurried  exclamations,  greetings  and 
questions  —  addressed  by  the  men  on  the  ground  to 
the  men  in  the  arriving  air-ships.  The  answers 
seemed  to  cause  considerable  perturbation  and  excite- 
ment. At  a  word  of  command  two  men  stepped  for- 
ward and  seized  Captain  Mortimer  roughly  by  the 
shoulders. 

In  an  instant  he  had  shaken  them  off,  and  with  two 
smashing  blows  sent  them  sprawling  to  the  ground. 

"  I  surrender,"  he  said ;  "  not  to  you,  you  scum ;  to 
the  lady !  " 

And  he  raised  his  hand  in  military  salute. 

One  of  the  men  struck  lay  on  the  ground,  apparent- 
ly stunned,  but  the  other  sprang  to  his  feet  with  an 
oath.     His  hand  flew  to  the  back  of  his  belt  and  out 


212        THE  FIEST  AMERICAN  KING 

flashed  a  long,  ugly-looking  knife.  Mortimer  sprang 
lightly  over  the  quarter,  set  his  back  against  the  side 
of  the  airship  and  drew  his  sword.  A  murmur  — 
half-angry,  half-excited  —  went  up  from  the  sur- 
rounding groups  of  men.  At  the  prospect  of  a  fight 
their  curiosity  and  interest  were  whetted.  The  man 
with  the  knife  crouched  as  if  seeking  an  opportunity 
to  spring  in  and  attack,  while  Mortimer  stood  coolly 
on  the  defensive,  a  half  smile  upon  his  face,  as  he 
watched  the  man's  awkward  points. 

At  this  juncture  the  girl  turned  and  hastily  whis- 
pered to  a  tall,  rawboned  man  who  had  just  climbed 
out  of  one  of  the  capturing  air-ships.  He  instantly 
broke  through  the  ranks  and  came  forward. 

"  Back,  Jackson,"  he  cried  to  the  man  with  the 
knife ;  "  quit  now !  " 

"  He  hit  me,"  replied  the  man,  with  a  savage  growl, 
"  and  I'm  going  to  rip  him  up.  Out  o'  the  way, 
Cap'n." 

"  It  looks  as  if  two  could  play  at  that  game,"  re- 
plied the  man  addressed  as  Captain,  with  a  grin. 
"  Back,  I  say.  This  man  is  a  prisoner  and  goes  be- 
fore the  Colonel." 

With  some  hesitancy  the  man  sheathed  his  knife 
and  slunk  back  among  his  fellows. 

"  Follow  me !  "  said  the  Captain  to  Mortimer ; 
"  and  you,  too,"  he  added,  nodding  to  the  Professor. 

The  latter  clambered  over  the  side  of  the  air-ship. 

"  I'm  ready,"  he  said. 

"  But  I  don't  know  whether  I  am,"  cried  Morti- 
mer, still  standing  sword  in  hand.  "  Who  are  you  ? 
A  military  organization,  or  a  band  of  outlaws  ?  I 
hear  you  speak  of  captains  and  colonels !  And  by 
what  authority  do  you  talk  of  prisoners  ?  " 

"  I  can't  answer  your  questions,"  replied  the  other, 


"  WHO  ARE  YOU  "  213 

civilly  enough ;  "  but  if  you  follow  me,  you'll  perhaps 
learn  all  you  want  to  know." 

"  Diplomacy  !  "  whispered  the  Professor.  "  Let 
me  again  urge  diplomacy." 

"  Very  well,"  said  Mortimer,  sheathing  his  sword ; 
"  let's  see  this  farce  through  to  the  end." 

They  accordingly  fell  in  on  either  side  of  their 
conductor,  who  led  the  way  for  some  little  distance 
down  the  valley,  abruptly  turning  to  the  right  into  a 
broad,  deep  canon.  Packed  in  the  canon  in  long 
rows  and  heaps  were  what  appeared  to  be  quantities 
of  stores  covered  with  huge  tarpaulins.  Here  and 
there  were  large,  cave-like  openings  in  the  sides  of 
the  hill,  with  men  passing  in  and  out.  It  was  evi- 
dently an  extensive  encampment  and  these  cave-like 
openings  either  led  into  quarters  for  the  men,  or 
were  storing  places  for  more  material. 

The  most  astonishing  spectacle  of  all  presented  it- 
self at  the  further  end  of  the  canon,  where  a  big, 
roughly-built,  black-bearded  man,  dressed  in  buck- 
skin and  broad-brimmed  felt  hat,  a  leather  belt  about 
his  waist  and  drawn  sword  in  hand,  was  drilling  a 
squad  of  men.  A  short  distance  away  was  a  large 
tent,  with  a  smaller  one  on  either  side. 

As  soon  as  he  perceived  the  three  approaching, 
the  man  in  command  of  the  squad  gave  an  order  to  a 
subordinate  and  advanced  toward  them.  He  stop- 
ped when  some  twenty  paces  away  and  motioned  to 
the  man  in  charge  of  the  two  prisoners  to  approach. 
The  latter  did  so  and  in  a  low  tone  made  his  report, 
whereupon  the  leader  turned  abruptly  upon  his  heel 
and  made  his  way  to  the  central  tent.  The  man  who 
had  been  conducting  Mortimer  and  Dean  returned 
to  them. 

"  You're  to  go  before  the  Colonel,"  he  said. 

"  The    Colonel !  "    exclaimed    Mortimer,    with    a 


214:       THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

guffaw.  "  Colonel  of  what  ?  May  I  inquire  what 
regiment  this  is  ?  " 

"  Ask  that  of  the  Colonel/'  was  the  answer. 

•■  At  least  tell  us  the  name  of  this  Colonel  ?  " 

Their  conductor  hesitated  a  moment. 

"  You  may  call  him  Colonel  Henry/'  he  said. 

"  And  you  ?  You  bear  the  rank  of  Captain,  it 
seems.     How  may  we  address  you  %  " 

"  I  am  second  in  command  here  and  you  may  call 
me  Captain  Robert." 

"  Ah,  indeed !  "  exclaimed  Mortimer  with  sarcasm ; 
"  an  un-uniformed  body  of  men,  whose  officers  all 
seem  to  be  known  by  their  first  names.  I'll  be  much 
interested  to  discover  the  nature  of  this  organization." 

"  Traitors  are  apt  to  turn  up  in  every  cause/'  was 
the  grave  answer,  "  although  this  cause  has  never 
known  one  so  far.  Hence  it's  wise  to  take  every  pre- 
caution." 

"  Cause  —  what  cause  ?  "  inquired  Mortimer. 

"  No  more  questions,  please,"  answered  Captain 
Robert.  "  I  bear  you  no  ill-will  and  I  want  to  give 
you  a  word  of  friendly  advice.  Speak  to  the  Colonel 
softly  and  civilly.  He's  a  hard  man  at  times  and  it 
will  be  well  to  remember  you  are  in  his  power." 

Mortimer  was  about  to  reply,  but  the  Professor 
hastily  interposed. 

"  I  take  your  advice  in  the  spirit  in  which  it  is 
given/'  he  said,  "  and  I  thank  you." 

Captain  Robert  led  the  way  to  the  central  tent, 
ushered  in  his  two  prisoners  and  retired.  As  he 
did  so,  a  squad  of  six  men,  armed  with  rifles,  fell  into 
line  behind  Dean  and  Mortimer.  The  latter  found 
themselves  confronted  with  Colonel  Henry,  who  was 
seated  before  a  large  table  facing  the  entrance  to  the 
tent. 

"  Your  names,"  he  asked  curtly,  with  a  scowl. 


"WHO  AKE  YOU"  215 

"  I'm  Captain  Mortimer,  of  the  Imperial  Guard, 
and  this  is  Professor  Dean,"  was  Mortimer's  reply. 
"  Who  are  you  \  " 

"  Since  when  have  prisoners  taken  to  doing  the 
questioning  ?  "  asked  the  other,  with  an  ugly  sneer. 

"  Prisoners !  "  retorted  Mortimer,  scornfullly,  "  to 
whom  —  to  what  authority  %  " 

"  Yes,  prisoners !  "  was  the  answer  with  rising 
fury,  "  and  if  you've  any  doubt  on  that  score,  I'll 
soon  convince  you  of  the  fact." 

He  paused  a  moment  and  calmed  himself  with  an 
effort. 

"  You  are  prisoners,"  he  continued,  "  just  as  the 
rest  of  the  Imperial  Guard  will  be  soon  —  prisoners 
or  dead." 

Captain  Mortimer  laughed  derisively.  Trained  in 
the  roughness  of  service  in  camp  and  field,  he  was  no 
great  adept  in  the  milder  methods  of  diplomacy  and 
the  soft  answer  that  turneth  away  wrath. 

"  Since  when  did  you  escape  from  safe-keeping  ?  " 
he  asked  contemptuously. 

Henry  rose  to  his  feet,  his  face  flushed  with  anger. 

"  You  may  laugh,"  he  cried,  "  but  what  I  say  is 
true.     They'll  all  be  prisoners,  or  dead !  " 

Mortimer  shrugged  his  shoulders,  with  the  air  of 
a  man  who  declines  to  pursue  an  utterly  nonsensical 
proposition  further. 

"  Enough,'"  exclaimed  Henry.  "  What  I  want  to 
know  is  where  you  got  that  air-ship  ?  " 

"  That's  for  you  to  find  out,"  replied  Mortimer. 

"  And  I  will,"  retorted  Henry,  with  growing  anger. 
"  That  air-ship  was  stolen  from  one  of  our  camps. 
There's  been  a  traitor  somewhere  and  that  traitor  I 
propose  to  discover." 

"Yes?" 


216        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

"  Yes ;  if  I  have  to  drag  the  secret  out  of  you  by 
main  force." 

"  You  certainly  stand  an  excellent  chance  of  do- 
ing it!"  sneered  Mortimer.  "This  much  I'll  tell 
you,  though,  so  that  no  innocent  person  may  possibly 
come  under  suspicion:  The  air-ship  is  not  stolen 
property.  It  was  built  by  an  honest  man  and  is  the 
property  of  His  Majesty,  the  King." 

A  look  of  mingled  astonishment,  incredulity  and 
anger  came  into  Henry's  face  as  Mortimer  spoke.  At 
the  closing  words  he  startled  perceptibly. 

"  You  lie !  "  he  cried. 

Quick  as  a  flash  of  light,  Mortimer's  long,  sinewy 
arm  shot  across  the  table  and  closed  upon  the  other's 
throat.  Henry  was  a  big,  strongly-built  man,  but 
struggle  as  he  would  he  could  not  free  himself  from 
that  vise-like  grasp.  Over  went  table  and  ehair,  and 
back  they  staggered  to  the  side  of  the  tent,  Mortimer's 
death-like  grip  neither  shaken  nor  loosened.  In  an 
instant  Henry?s  men  recovered  from  the  first  shock 
of  surprise  and  the  whole  file  rushed  in  to  the  rescue 
of  their  chief.  The  shouts  of  the  men  and  the  sounds 
of  strife  reached  the  outside  of  the  tent  and  other 
men,  headed  by  Captain  Robert,  rushed  in  and  lent 
their  aid.  The  struggle  was  sharp  but  brief  and, 
overborne  by  numbers,  Mortimer  was  finally  dragged 
away,  a  stout  rope  wound  about  his  arms.  Dean, 
too,  they  seized  and  secured. 

Henry  had  been  thrown  down  in  the  struggle.  He 
rose  to  his  feet,  black  in  the  face  and  gasping,  and 
staggered  against  the  side  of  the  tent,  his  hands 
pressed  to  his  throat.  Some  of  the  men  stood 
bunched  around  Mortimer,  to  restrain  any  further 
outbreak;  others  busied  themselves  picking  up  the 
various  articles  scattered  around  the  floor  in  the  strug- 
gle.    Recovered  somewhat  from  the  fearful  choking, 


"  WHO  ARE  YOU  "  217 

Henry  walked  across  the  tent,  his  face  working  with 
anger.     He   confronted   Mortimer,    standing   bound 
amid  his  captors. 
"  Curse  you !  " 

And  he  struck  the  prisoner  with  his  open  hand  full 
across  the  face. 

The  blow  was  a  heavy  one  and  would  have  taken 
a  weaker  man  off  his  feet.  A  great  shiver  of  rage 
convulsed  Mortimer's  powerful  frame,  he  strained 
furiously  at  his  bonds  and  his  blue  eyes  blazed  with 
fury  as  he  glared  into  the  dark  face  of  his  opponent. 

'  You  hound !     Should  we  ever  meet  face  to  face 
you'll  pay  for  that  with  your  life !  "  he  muttered  be- 
tween his  teeth. 

A  furious  retort  was  upon  the  lips  of  Henry,  when 
Captain  Robert  abruptly  interposed. 

.  "  You  dare  to   interfere !  "   cried  Henrv,   beside 
himself. 

"  No,  but—"  and  Captain  Robert  whispered,  his 
face  close  to  that  of  his  chief.  The  bystanders  caught 
only  the  words  "  treatment  of  prisoners,"  "  general 
orders  "  and  "  High  President." 

"  Enough !  "  broke  in  Henry,  with  a  violent  effort 
keeping  down  his  rage.  "  Take  him  away.  I'll  deal 
with  him  later.  Take  him  away,  I  say,  before  I  kill 
him  where  he  stands !  " 


CHAPTER  II 

VALERIE  SEEKS   NEWS   OF  THE    FASHIONS 

Captain  Robert  lost  no  time  in  carrying  out  the 
order  thus  received  to  remove  the  prisoners.  Plac- 
ing himself  between  them,  he  marched  from  the  tent 
and  hurried  down  the  canon. 

"  I  warned  you  to  take  matters  quietly,"  he  said 
reproachfully.  "  Yet  you  seem  to  have  acted  like 
a  keg  of  explosives  from  the  moment  you  got  inside 
the  tent." 

"  I  wish  I  could  find  myself  face  to  face  with  that 
scoundrel,  man  to  man,  for  a  few  minutes !  "  retorted 
Mortimer.  "  Oh,  for  a  company  of  the  Guards  at 
my  back  at  this  moment  and  I'd  soon  teach  that  fel- 
low and  those  behind  him  here  a  lesson.  Prisoners 
or  dead  he  said  they  would  be  shortly.  I'd  show  him 
that  these  same  Guards  were  very  much  alive !  " 

"  Prisoners  or  dead,  eh  ?  "  repeated  Robert.  "  Did 
he  tell  you  that  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  answered  Mortimer  impatiently. 

"  He  spoke  only  the  truth,"  said  Robert  solemnly. 

Dean  started.  This  was  the  second  time  within  a 
few  minutes  he  had  heard  this  declaration  and  the 
man  who  now  uttered  it  spoke  earnestly  and  with  con- 
viction. In  Mortimer  the  words  created  nothing 
save  irritation  and  impatience.  The  idea  of  a  body 
of  bandits,  or  other  ruffians,  talking  of  annihilating 
the  famous  Guards  —  one  of  the  crack  regiments  of 
the  world.     It  was  too  preposterous ! 

H  Are  you  afflicted,  too  ?  "  he  asked  with  contempt. 

219 


220       THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

"*But  never  mind  that!  What's  this  body  of  men 
here  ?  We  are  at  least  entitled  to  know  to  whom  we 
are  prisoners." 

They  had  come  to  the  end  of  the  canon  and  had 
reached  the  main  valley.  Robert  led  in  sharp  turn 
to  the  right  and  kept  along  parallel  with  the  base  of 
the  mountain. 

"  I  may  not  answer  your  questions,"  he  replied, 
"  but  unless  I  am  much  mistaken,  there  will  shortly 
arrive  here  one  high  in  authority  with  whom  you  will 
talk.  This  air-ship  of  yours  must  be  reported  at 
once.  It  is  the  most  momentous  thing  which  could 
have  happened." 

"  Why  so  ?  And  who  is  this  one  high  in  authority 
of  whom  you  speak  ?  "  asked  Mortimer. 

Robert  parried  his  question  with  the  query: 

"  Suppose  you  tell  me  where  you  got  your  air-ship  ? 
Did  you  secure  it  from  one  of  our  camps  ?  " 

"  That  ruffian  back  there  has  already  asked  me 
that,"  replied  Mortimer,  "  and  I  told  him  that  it 
wasn't  stolen,  as  he  seemed  to  think,  from  any  of 
your  people,  but  was  the  legitimate  property  of  His 
Majesty,  the  King." 

"  Then  it  was  sold  to  the  royalists  by  some  renegade 
of  our  party,"  exclaimed  Robert  excitedly. 

"  Xot  at  all,"  replied  Mortimer.  "  There  you're 
quite  wrong. 

"  Who  built  it,  then  ?  Have  you  any  more  such 
ships  ?  "  continued  Robert  with  the  same  avidity. 

"  Steady,  now !  "  replied  Mortimer,  smiling  at  the 
other's  eagerness.  "  You're  not  particularly  liberal 
in  the  matter  of  information  and  we're  not  generous, 
cither,"  he  added  with  sarcasm,  "  after  the  treatment 
we  have  experienced  here." 

"  For  that,"  replied  Robert  humbly,  "  I  ask  your 
pardon  in  my  behalf  and  in  behalf  of  many  others 


VALEEIE  SEEKS  NEWS  221 

here  who  will  learn  and  not  approve  of  what  has  been 
done.  The  Colonel  is  a  hard  man  —  a  brutal  man, 
if  you  will  —  but  a  highly  capable  one.  Hence  he 
is  in  command  here.  Blood  will  have  to  be  shed  so 
that  our  cause  may  prevail,  but  the  great  mass  of  us 
are,  I  may  truly  say,  opposed  to  any  unnecessary 
violence." 

"  You  speak  strangely,"  said  Mortimer. 

"Perhaps  it  may  so  seem  to  you,"  replied  Robert, 
"  but  it's  nevertheless  true.  When  the  hour  comes 
we  shall  strike,  to  the  full  extent  that  may  be  neces- 
sary, but  not  one  step  beyond  that.  Those  are  the 
orders  —  the  orders  of  the  High  President." 

"  The  High  President !  "  exclaimed  Mortimer, 
coming  to  a  dead  stop.  "  Ah !  I  see  —  I  see !  I've 
heard  that  title  before.  This  —  this  —  camp  is  a 
camp  of  Reactionists  and  you  —  you  —  you  —  are 
rebels  —  conspirators  against  the  King !  " 

"  Hush  !  "  said  Robert  warningly. 

"  You  deny  it !  "  cried  Mortimer. 

"  I  affirm  or  deny  nothing ! "  replied  Robert. 
"  I've  already  said  too  much.  Come,  let  us  move 
on."     He  touched  Mortimer  lightly  on  the  arm. 

They  walked  a  short  distance  further  on  down  the 
valley,  to  a  large  circular  opening  between  the  moun- 
tains, where  a  singular  sight  confronted  them.  In 
that  great  circular  valley,  moored  to  right  and  left, 
like  shipping  in  a  harbor,  lay  some  two  dozen  air- 
ships of  varying  sizes.  In  the  foremost  rank  were 
the  four  great  ships  which  had  effected  their  capture, 
and  nestling  behind  these  four  was  their  own  craft, 
the  "  Royal  Dean."  Here  and  there  men  at  work 
were  moving  about  among  the  ships. 

Silently  they  stared  for  a  moment  upon  the  scene 
before  them. 

"J  would  much  like  to  inspect  some  of  these," 
whispered  Dean  to  Robert.     "  May  I  ?  " 


222       THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

"  I  hardly  think  I  have  authority  to  grant  you  that 
privilege,"  replied  Robert,  smiling,  "  but  your  ship 
will  doubtless  be  subjected  to  very  careful  scrutiny 
by  us.  By  the  way,  is  there  anything  about  it  that 
requires  attention  for  the  moment  ?  " 

"Nothing,"  replied  Dean;  "everything  is  auto- 
matically controlled  and  it  can  remain  as  it  is  for  a 
month  without  injury." 

"  Did  you  take  part  in  fitting  it  up  ?  "  asked  Robert 
curiously. 

"  For  any  and  all  information,"  replied  Dean,  with 
a  laugh,  "  I  must  refer  you  to  Captain  Mortimer." 

Robert  good-naturedly  joined  in  the  laugh  against 
himself  and  led  the  way  on  board  one  of  the  larger 
air-ships.  This  air-ship  was  supplied  with  quite  a 
spacious  cabin  and  into  this  cabin  Robert  showed  his 
prisoners,  unbinding  the  ropes  which  confined  their 
arms. 

"  This  will  have  to  be  your  dungeon  cell  for  the 
present,"  he  said,  with  a  wave  of  the  hand  around  the 
cabin,  "  and  I  think  you  will  agree  it  might  be  worse. 
For  my  part,  I'll  do  all  in  my  power  to  make  you  as 
comfortable  as  possible.  We  have  a  very  fair  com- 
missariat department,  I  think  you'll  find,  and  I'll  at 
least  see  to  it  that  you're  well  looked  after  in  that  di- 
rection. My  quarters  are  quite  close  to  yours  and 
whatever  is  prepared  for  my  daughter  and  myself  you 
shall  share." 

"  Your  daughter,"  repeated  Mortimer.  "  Was 
that  the  lady  whom  we  saw  when  we  landed  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  replied  Robert ;  "  my  only  child.  The  or- 
ganization here  sought  me  because  of  my  knowledge 
of  mechanics  which  rendered  me  useful  in  connec- 
tion with  these  air-ships.  I  would  never  have  con- 
sented to  come,  though,  if  it  had  meant  separation 


VALEKIE  SEEKS  NEWS  223 

from  my  girl,  so  they  agreed  to  her  coming  with 
me.  She's  a  great  favorite  here.  They  call  her 
'  The  Daughter  of  the  Regiment.'  But,  while  I 
am  talking  away  to  you,  I  expect  you  are  pretty 
hungry." 

"  I  confess  to  experiencing  a  sense  of  vacuum," 
said  the  Professor. 

"  I'm  as  hungry  as  a  bear,"  said  Mortimer. 

"  Then  your  wants  in  that  respect  shall  be  quickly 
supplied,"  replied  Robert  cheerily.  "  In  the  mean- 
time you'll  forgive  me,  I  know,  if  I  secure  this  door 
on  the  outside  and  put  a  man  on  guard.  That's  the 
usual  military  process,  I  believe,  Captain  % " 

"  Very  well,"  answered  Mortimer,  with  a  laugh. 
"  I  promise  you  not  to  escape  during  the  next  hour  • — 
not  until  after  breakfast." 

"  And  your  sword,"  said  Robert,  glancing  at  the 
scabbard  which  hung  by  Mortimer's  side.  "  I  sup- 
pose, according  to  strict  military  rule,  I  ought  to  de- 
mand that  you  give  it  up." 

Mortimer's  face  darkened. 

"  I  served  through  the  Russian  war,"  he  said,  "  and 
was  never  taken  prisoner.  To  yield  up  my  sword 
would  be  a  new  experience  to  me.  I'll  yield  it  to 
none  here,  and  those  who  would  have  it  must  take  it 
by  force." 

"  Well,"  answered  Robert  in  a  conciliatory  tone, 
"  we  needn't  quarrel  over  that.  We  hold  you  secure- 
ly eneugh  here  as  it  is  and  can  afford  to  leave  you 
your  sword." 

With  these  words,  he  stepped  from  the  cabin,  se- 
cured the  door  on  the  outside  and  the  two  prisoners 
were  alone.  Instinctively  they  turned  and  faced  each 
other. 

"  A  pretty  mess  we've  made  of  it !  "  exclaimed 
Mortimer,  with  a  laugh.     "  We  started  out  to  capture 


224        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

those  fellows  and  here  they've  turned  the  tables  and 
captured  us.  A  nice  little  ambuscade  we've  walked, 
or  rather  flown,  into.  The  worst  of  it,  too,  is  that  I 
thought  it  was  only  a  night's  work  and  I  didn't  even 
get  leave  of  absence  from  the  Guard  —  all  of  which 
is  quite  an  infraction  of  military  discipline." 

"  And  I,"  bewailed  the  Professor,  "  what  a  mess 
I've  made  of  it !  Never  once  in  the  excitement  of 
the  chase  did  I  think  of  using  the  aerestograph  to 
communicate  with  our  friend  Kearns.  You  see,  I 
was  kept  pretty  busy  handling  the  air-ship  and  keep- 
ing watch  on  the  movements  of  the  fellows  in  front 
of  us.  Still,  I  suppose  I  ought  to  have  managed  to 
send  him  a  message  or  two." 

"  Not  at  all,"  replied  Mortimer ;  "  you  were  not 
to  blame.  Up  to  the  moment  of  our  capture  what 
news  was  there  to  send  ?  We  were  every  moment 
awaiting  developments." 

"  And  when  those  developments  occurred,"  re- 
marked the  Professor  dryly,  "  it  was  no  longer  in  our 
power  to  send  messages." 

"  Quite  so,"  assented  Mortimer,  "  but  all  that 
happened  was  so  utterly  unlooked  for  that  we  could 
hardly  have  been  expected  to  foresee  it.  Those  who 
are  disposed  to  criticise  may  be  reminded  of  the  old 
axiom  that  foresight  is  never  equal  to  hindsight." 

"  Quite  true,"  answered  the  Professor,  "  but  what 
can  you  suggest  as  the  best  way  out  of  our  present 
position  ?     What  shall  we  do  ?" 

There  was  a  sound  at  the  door,  as  of  someone  at 
work  on  the  outer  fastenings. 

"  Nothing  —  until  after  breakfast,"  replied  Morti- 
mer.    "  Ah,  here  it  comes,  I  think  —  and  welcome." 

As  he  spoke  the  door  opened  and  there  appeared, 
at  the  head  of  the  steps  leading  down  into  the  cabin, 
the  graceful  figure  of  a  girl  carrying  a  large  tray 


VALEEIE  SEEKS  isTEWS  225 

substantially  laden  with  food.  At  a  glance  they  rec- 
ognized her  as  she  whom  they  had  seen  upon  landing. 

Professor  Dean  rose  and  bowed. 

"  Miss  Robert,  I  believe  ?  "  said  Captain  Morti- 
mer, also  rising  and  bowing. 

The  girl  deposited  her  heavy  tray,  ran  over  to  a 
locker  and  procured  a  white  tablecloth  which  she 
spread  upon  the  table. 

"  Yes,"  she  replied,  with  a  merry  laugh,  "  but 
here  in  the  camp  they  call  me  '  Valerie.'  ' 

And  she  turned  a  pair  of  merry  brown  eyes  upon 
them,  eyes  that  rested  with  evident  admiration  on 
Mortimer's  jaunty  military  jacket,  with  its  gay  trap- 
pings. As  she  stood  there  smiling,  with  her  high 
color,  her  jet-black  hair,  her  graceful  figure,  and 
large  but  very  white  teeth  showing  between  her  full, 
scarlet  lips,  she  was  unquestionably  a  very  pretty 
girl. 

"  Valerie,"  repeated  Mortimer,  gallantly.  "  That 
is  certainly  a  very  pretty  name,  but  a  rather  uncom- 
mon one  in  this  country." 

"  Yes,"  assented  Valerie,  still  laughing,  as  she 
busied  herself  with  the  table ;  "  I  suppose  it  is.  My 
mother  was  French  and  I  was  named  after  her. 
They  tell  me  you  come  direct  from  the  palace,"  she 
prattled  on.  "  Are  any  of  the  ladies  there  called 
Valerie  ? " 

"  I  think  not,"  replied  Mortimer,  joining  in  her 
merry  mood.  "  It  would  be  hard,  even  at  Court,  to 
find  a  name  as  pretty  as  that." 

"  And  is  it  true  that  the  ladies  are  wearing  drec?es 
cut  in  Directoire  style  ?  "  continued  Valerie. 

Mortimer  broke  into  a  hearty  laugh. 

"  Really,"  he  said,  "  I  am  not  competent  to  answer 
that.  Perhaps,"  he  added  mischievously,  "  my 
friend  Professor  Dean,  who  takes   a  great  interest 


226        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

in  the   ladies,  can  inform  you  upon  that  subject." 

Thus  appealed  to,  the  Professor  fairly  blushed. 

"  Well,"  he  stammered  confusedly,  "  I  don't  know 
much  about  ladies'  dresses,  but  it  is  true  that  the 
fashions  have  reverted  to  something  like  that  which 
was  in  vogue  some  two  centuries  ago  and  the  ladies 
at  the  Court  to-day  are  wearing  dresses  which  suggest 
those  of  the  days  of  the  French  Directoire." 

"  There !  "  exclaimed  Mortimer  triumphantly. 
"  You  see  he  is  an  authority  and  I  referred  you  to 
the  right  source  for  information."  , 

"  It  must  be  a  very  pretty  fashion,"  remarked  the 
girl  musingly.  "  How  I  would  like  to  see  those 
dresses  —  and  the  Court  and  the  ladies  there ! 
What  a  pity  it  seems  that  a  Court  is  wicked  and  must 
be  done  away  with." 

"  What  makes  you  think  the  Court  is  wicked  ?  " 
asked  Mortimer  curiously. 

"  Oh,"  replied  the  girl,  "  I  have  always  been 
taught  that.  Everybody  here  says  it  is.  But  I  am 
keeping  you  from  your  breakfast,"  she  added,  hastily. 

"  Xot  at  all,"  protested  Mortimer  and  the  Pro- 
fessor together.     "  Pray  stay." 

"  Xo ;  I  must  go,"  she  replied  regretfully.  "  I 
was  specially  told  I  must  not  talk  much  to  you  and 
if  I  stay  too  long,  father  will  suspect  and  not  let  me 
come  again,  and,"  she  added  with  a  saucy  smile  and 
a  final  admiring  glance  at  Mortimer's  uniform,  as 
she  fled  up  the  steps,  "  I  want  to  come  again." 

As  the  door  closed  behind  her  the  Professor  turned 
to  Mortimer. 

"  They  say  that  every  woman  is  at  heart  a  royalist 
and  I  verily  believe  this  very  attractive  young  woman 
has  a  leaning  that  way." 

"  The  saying  is  a  very  true  one,"  replied  Morti- 
mer.    "  From  what  little  I  have  read  and  observed 


VALEKIE  SEEKS  NEWS  227 

on  the  subject,  I  should  say  that  the  women  —  God 
bless  them  !  —  had  much  to  do,  by  indirect  but  never- 
theless powerful  influence,  with  the  formation  of  the 
monarchy,  and  womankind  to-day  is  to  be  reckoned 
as  one  of  the  staunchest  supports  of  the  throne." 

And  with  this  summary  of  the  situation,  he  turned 
with  interest  to  the  breakfast  before  them. 

They  spent  the  remainder  of  the  morning  and 
afternoon  in  arguing  over  various  measures  and  plans 
of  escape.  There  was  a  sentinel,  they  knew,  con- 
stantly on  duty  outside  the  cabin  door,  and  should 
they  break  out  and  confront  this  man  there  were 
doubtless  plenty  of  his  comrades  at  hand  to  come  to 
his  assistance  before  an  escape  could  be  made.  From 
what  little  they  had  seen  of  the  valley  they  had 
perceived  that  it  was  apparently  enclosed  on  all  sides 
by  high,  precipitous  mountains,  which  would  take 
much  time  and  effort  to  scale  and  would  afford  excel- 
lent opportunities  for  pursuit  and  recapture.  Any 
clumsy  and  unsuccessful  effort  at  escape  would  nat- 
urally lead  to  greater  vigilance  on  the  part  of  their 
captors.  They  were  both  agreed  that  they  must  be 
patient  for  the  moment  and  watch  for  some  favorable 
opportunity  before  venturing  an  attempt. 

Their  dinner  was  brought  them  by  Valerie,  who 
stayed  longer  than  before,  chatting  gayly  and  coquet- 
ting at  a  lively  rate  with  Mortimer.  After  dinner 
they  received  a  visit  from  Captain  Eobert,  who  came 
with  a  bundle  under  his  arm. 

"  I  cannot  offer  you  cigars,"  he  said,  "  for  there  is 
a  shortage  of  those  luxuries  here,  but  I  can  give  you 
some  excellent  tobacco."  He  took  the  bundle  from 
under  his  arm  and  laid  upon  the  table  some  long  clay 
pipes  and  a  stone  jar  filled  with  tobacco. 

k  There's  a  great  consumption  of  pipes  among  our 


228        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

people,"  he  said,  "  and  we  manufacture  these  our- 
selves —  both  the  long  and  the  short  variety." 

The  Professor  smiled. 

"  You  seem  to  have  extensive  facilities  for  various 
kinds  of  manufacturing,"  he  remarked  with  meaning. 

Captain  Robert  laughed  outright. 

"  I'm  not  going  to  give  you  any  information  on 
that  point,"  he  said,  "  but  I  can  tell  you  something 
of  interest." 

"Yes?" 

"  The  news  of  your  capture  and  of  your  air-ship," 
continued  Captain  Robert,  "  has  been  forwarded  to 
headquarters  and  it  seems  to  have  made,  as  I  pre- 
dicted, quite  a  stir." 

"  Ah !  is  that  all !  "  answered  the  Professor,  with 
some  disappointment. 

"  By  no  means,"  replied  Robert.  "  A  certain  im- 
portant personage  is  on  his  way  here.  To-morrow 
you  will  receive  a  visit." 

''From  whom  ?  "  inquired  Dean  curiously. 

The  other  dropped  his  voice  to  a  whisper : 

"  From  the  High  President  himself!  " 


CHAPTER  III 

THE    MASKED    VISITOR 

It  was  close  upon  noon  on  the  following  day  when 
Captain  Robert  presented  himself  before  the  prison- 
ers.    He  was  eager  and  excited. 

"  Are  you  ready  to  receive  the  visit  I  spoke  of  last 
night  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Ah !  "  exclaimed  Mortimer,  with  a  slight  show 
of  interest,  "  is  His  Mightiness,  your  famous  High 
President,  here  %  " 

"  Yes,"  replied  Robert ;  "  he  arrived  just  before 
daylight  and  has  been  busy  during  the  morning 
around  the  camp." 

"  Arrived  before  daylight !  "  repeated  Mortimer. 
"  Your  High  President  is  an  early  traveler." 

"  Those  who  come  to  this  camp,"  answered  Robert 
gravely,  "  invariably  arrive  before  daylight.  I  don't 
think  I'll  betray  any  very  special  information  if  I 
tell  you  in  confidence  that  he  was  picked  up  at  a 
distant  point  from  here  and  arrived  by  air-ship." 

"  That's  just  what  I  surmised  when  you  first 
spoke,"  said  Dean  quickly. 

"  Then  your  surmise  was  quite  correct,"  replied 
Robert.  "  He  arrived  and  he  will  leave  by  air-ship. 
Are  you  ready  to  receive  him  ?  " 

Mortimer  and  the  Professor  both  assented  and 
Robert  started  for  the  cabin  steps.  But  he  stopped 
and  again  turned  to  them. 

"  I  know  nothing  definitely,"  he  said,  "  but  I 
strongly  suspect  the  interview  you  are  about  to  hold 

229 


230        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

will  be  a  most  important  one.  I  have  your  welfare 
at  heart.  I  beg  you  to  receive  the  High  President 
in  the  right  spirit  and  to  give  due  heed  to  his  words." 

"  I  thank  you,"  said  the  Professor  appreciatively. 

"  And  I  thank  you,"  exclaimed  Mortimer,  "  but 
I've  already  had  one  unpleasant  experience  here. 
Your  High  President  shall  be  received  by  us  with 
due  consideration  and  we  will  listen  carefully  to 
whatever  he  may  have  to  say  to  us,  provided  the 
manner  and  language  adopted  are  such  as  may  be 
properly  tolerated  by  a  gentleman  of  the  high  scien- 
tific attainments  of  my  friend,  Professor  Dean,  and 
myself,  as  an  officer  of  His  Majesty,  the  King." 

'•  Ah,"  exclaimed  Robert  enthusiastically,  "  you 
need  have  no  fear  on  that  score.  Don't  for  a  moment 
compare  the  High  President  with  anyone  you  have 
seen  here.  The  High  President  is  a  man  of  the 
highest  culture  and  of  the  highest  calibre.  He  is 
the  most  God-like  man  who  has  lived  since  the  days 
of  Washington  —  a  leader  gifted  with  genius  for 
organization,  a  patriot  who  seeks  nothing  except  for 
his  countrymen ;  brave,  enterprising,  resourceful, 
merciless  when  the  occasion  demands  it,  yet  with  a 
heart  full  of  love  for  humanity  —  such  is  our  High 
President.  He  will  go  down  to  posterity  as  the 
greatest  patriot  and  leader  of  men  of  the  centuries." 

Robert's  eyes  blazed  with  enthusiasm  as  he  spoke 
and  his  manner  was  full  of  earnestness. 

"  We  will  bear  your  words  in  mind,"  said  the  Pro- 
fessor. "  He  is  doubtless  very  worthy,  since  you  esti- 
mate him  so  highly." 

"  And  you  —  what  say  you  ?  "  asked  Robert,  turn- 
ing questioningly  to  Mortimer. 

"  I  can  hardly  be  expected  to  subscribe  to  your 
views,"  answered  Mortimer  coldly,  "  inasmuch  as  I 
have  reason  to  suspect  the  person  to  whom  you  refer 


THE  MASKED  VISITOR  231 

to  be  engaged  in  an  organized  and  armed  rebellion 
against  the  government  and  to  be  an  enemy  to  the 
King." 

Robert  stood  for  a  moment  looking  sadly  into  Mor- 
timer's face  and  then,  without  another  word,  with- 
drew. 

Some  ten  minutes  later  the  door  again  opened 
and  looking  up  they  saw  Robert.  He  stepped  back, 
opened  the  door  to  its  fullest  extent  and  there  ap- 
peared a  man  tall  of  stature  and  of  massive  physique. 
With  movements  which  were  remarkably  rapid  for 
one  of  such  giant  proportions,  he  passed  down  the 
cabin  steps  and  stood  before  them. 

Both  Mortimer  and  Dean  looked  up  with  a  start 
of  astonishment. 

Their  visitor  was  masked. 

"  Greeting !  "  he  exclaimed,  as  he  stood  facing 
them,  using  the  common  form  of  salutation  of  the 
day.  Long  ago  the  Professor  had  duly  noted  that 
the  comparatively  meaningless  "  Good-morning !  " 
and  "  Good-day !  "  of  the  olden  times  had  passed  into 
disuse ;  as  had  also  that  almost  pathetic  expression 
at  parting :  "  Good-bye !  "  They  were  as  obsolete 
as  the  "  Good-morrow !  "  of  the  eighteenth  century. 
People  now  said  "  Greeting !  "  or  "  Salutations !  "  or 
"  I  salute  you !  "  when  they  met  and  "  Re-meeting !  " 
when  they  parted  —  thereby  intending  to  courteous- 
ly convey  the  idea  that  they  looked  forward  with  an- 
ticipation and  pleasure  to  again  meeting  the  person 
from  whom  they  were  taking  leave.  "  To  our  joyous 
re-meeting!  "  Surely  a  happier  salutation  than  the 
old-time  sad  "  Good-bye !  " 

"  We  greet  you !  "  responded  Mortimer,  in  turn 
using  the  customary  form  of  salutation. 

"  I  trust  you  have  been  well  cared  for,"  continued 


232        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

the  visitor,  "  and  that  your  detention  has  been  made 
as  comfortable  as  circumstances  would  permit." 

"  With  the  exception  of  a  dastardly  insult  received 
from  him  who  appears  to  be  in  chief  command  here," 
replied  Mortimer,  flushing  with  anger  at  the  recollec- 
tions of  the  event,  "  we  have  received  every  kindness 
and  courtesy." 

The  visitor  waved  his  hand  deprecatingly. 

"  The  matter  has  been  reported  to  me,"  he  said, 
"  and  you  may  rely  upon  it  that  I  have  severely 
reprimanded  the  offender.  Only  the  existence  of  an 
extraordinary  exigency  has  prevented  the  summary 
removal  of  the  officer.  Such  action,  I  beg  to  assure 
you,  is  entirely  contrary  to  the  spirit  and  rules  of 
our  organization." 

"  Then  I  accept  your  explanation,"  answered 
Mortimer.  "  I'll  only  hold  the  man  himself  respon- 
sible for  his  act.  Let  us  put  that  matter  aside  and 
pass  on  to  other  subjects.  I  wish  to  know  what  is 
this  organization  assembled  here  that  has  dared  to 
hold  in  detention  my  friend  and  myself,  both  in  the 
service  of  His  Majesty,  the  King." 

The  visitor  threw  back  his  head  proudly  and  an- 
swered without  a  moment's  hesitation. 

"  You  may  have  experienced  some  reticence  on  that 
subject  from  those  about  you,"  he  said,  "  for  it  is 
well  that  subordinates  should  be  trained  to  caution 
and  to  secrecy,  but  I  have  no  hesitation  in  satisfying 
your  inquiry.  You  are  prisoners  by  the  right  of 
Might  —  the  paramount  right  in  the  affairs  of  this 
world  —  and  the  body  to  which  you  are  prisoners 
is  the  Federated  Nihilists  of  America." 

"  Ah,  Nihilists !  "  exclaimed  Mortimer. 

"  Yes,"  was  the  reply ;  "  commonly  but  very  inac- 
curately referred  to  by  you  of  the  Court  as  '  Reac- 
tionists/ " 


THE  MASKED  VISITOR  233 

"  And  you,"  said  Mortimer ;  "  you  are  the  High 
President  % " 

"  I  am  the  High  President." 

There  was  a  momentary  pause  and  Mortimer  again 
spoke. 

"  Then,  may  I  ask  of  you,"  he  said,  "  as  the  head 
of  this  organization,  what  are  your  plans  concerning 
us?  Is  this  detention  to  last  indefinitely,  or  have 
you  any  terms  to  offer  us  ?  " 

"  Let  us  be  seated,"  answered  the  High  President. 
"  I  have  much  to  say  to  you  and  much  may  depend 
upon  our  conference.  I  see  that  you  have  smoking 
materials  on  the  table.  Pray  smoke,  if  it  please  you, 
and  if  you  think  it  will  add  calmness  and  wisdom  to 
our  deliberations." 

Professor  Dean  had  thus  far  not  uttered  a  single 
word.  There  was  a  strange  straining  and  puzzling 
going  on  in  his  mind.  Certain  accents  in  the  voice 
of  the  High  President  struck  upon  his  ear  with  a 
strange  familiarity.  Where  before  had  he  heard 
that  voice  ?  Was  it  among  some  of  those  whom  he 
had  recently  met,  or  was  it  merely  a  resemblance 
conveying  a  suggestion  of  his  former  life  —  of  the 
long  ago  ? 

They  took  their  seats  about  the  table  and  faced 
each  other  for  a  moment.  Then  the  High  Presi- 
dent spoke. 

"  As  I  have  told  you,"  he  said,  "  this  body  is  known 
as  the  Eederated  Nihilists  of  America  —  a  body 
which  you,  Captain  Mortimer,  have  doubtless  now 
and  again  vaguely  heard  referred  to  as  '  The  Reac- 
tionists.' Nothing  could  be  more  inaccurate,  or  mis- 
leading, than  this  term,  inasmuch  as  the  entire  spirit 
of  our  organization  is  directly  opposed  to  reaction. 
The  royalists  call  us  '  Reactionists  '  because  they  be- 
lieve our  aim  is  to  upset  the  monarchical  establish- 


234       THE  FIRST  AMERICAN"  KING 

merit  and  revert  to  the  former  Republic.  Nothing 
could  be  more  wrong,  and  I  say  to  you  frankly  that 
between  the  Monarchy  of  to-day  and  the  old-time 
Republic,  as  it  existed  prior  to  the  crowning  of  the 
first  American  King,  the  Monarchy  is  the  better  in- 
stitution." 

"  If  you  admit  that,"  said  Mortimer  argumenta- 
tively,  "  what  is  it  you  seek  to  attain  ? " 

"  That  which  the  title  of  our  organization  im- 
plies," replied  the  High  President.  "  We  style  our- 
selves Nihilists  and,  as  you  know,  the  word  Nihil 
is  from  the  Latin  and  signifies  '  Nothing.'  First,  ex- 
isting institutions  must  be  wiped  out  —  reduced  to 
nothing  —  before  we  can  build  up  the  new.  Our 
aim  is  to  extinguish  —  to  annihilate  —  to  destroy  — ■ 
not  only  the  existing  monarchy,  not  only  all  relics  and 
customs  which  have  been  handed  down  to  us  from  the 
Republic  preceding  that  monarchy,  but  all  existing 
institutions.  We  regard  these  existing  institutions  as 
so  unsatisfactory,  so  corrupt,  so  vile  that  it  would  be 
a  useless  task  to  seek  to  better  them.  You  will  never 
reach  a  given  point,  no  matter  how  you  may  press 
onward  or  take  turns  to  the  right  or  to  the  left,  if 
you  are  on  entirely  the  wrong  road.  So  it  is  with 
existing  institutions.  The  conditions  are  so  utterly 
and  hopelessly  wrong  that  it  is  a  useless  task  to  seek 
to  improve  them.  The  only  recourse  is  to  wipe  every- 
thing out  and  build  up  entirely  anew." 

"  Wasn't  that  idea  formulated  in  Russia  a  long 
time  ago  ?  "  asked  Mortimer  thoughtfully. 

"  The  idea  was  agitated  in  Russia  over  a  century 
ago,"  replied  the  High  President,  "  and  its  advocates 
prosecuted  in  a  more  or  less  crude  and  barbarous 
fashion  their  ideas  and  their  plans.  It  does  not  fol- 
low that  because  an  idea  is  old,  it  is  devoid  of  merit. 
On  the  contrary,  nearly  all  the  great  ideas  and  move- 


THE  MASKED  VISITOR  235 

inents  in  this  world  have  been  in  existence  a  long  time 
—  have  been  old  —  before  the  world  has  finally  ac- 
cepted them.  The  soil  of  Russia,  however,  never 
was  a  suitable  soil  for  the  cultivation  of  the  plant 
of  Liberty.  Here  in  the  broad,  free  American  air 
Liberty  will  flourish  and  give  to  mankind  a  new  and 
happier  era.  Our  Nihilism,  while  founded  upon  the 
same  basic  principle,  is  in  its  practical  workings  upon 
a  far  more  scientific  foundation.  It  is  a  Nihilism 
brought  down  to  the  requirements  and  the  civiliza- 
tion of  the  twentieth  century." 

/'And  you  really  think  this  Nihilism  of  yours 
with  its  Russian  origin  and  its  later-day  modifications 
and  improvements  as  worked  out  by  you,  better  for 
the  American  people  than  the  Monarchy?"    a«ked 
Mortimer. 

«  "Un?0llLt.e(%/'    answered   the   High    President. 
Ihe  American  atmosphere  and  the  genius  of  the 
American  people  are  not  really  suited  to  a  monarchy, 
although  thanks  to  the  trend  of  peculiar  circumstances 
those  forces  here  which  favor  that  form  of  govern- 
ment—and I  will  admit  they  are  by  no  means  few 
or  lacking  m  influence  and  power  —  have  for  the  time 
being  the  upper  hand.     The  real  mission,  however 
of  Americans,  with  all  their  faults  and  foibles,  is  to 
teach  the  world  at  large  new  and  greater  forms  of 
liberty  and  human  happiness,  ever  growing  grander 
and  greater  throughout  the  successive  cycles  of  time  " 
And  you  think  your  Nihilism  better  suited  for 
the  American  people  than  a  republic,  such  as  that 
which  was  supplanted  by  the  present  Monarchy  2  » 
said   Professor   Dean,    who   had   been   an    attentive 
listener  and  who  now  for  the  first  time  joined  in  the 
conversation.     "  Ah,  sir,  I  have  heard  you  refer  with 
striking  disparagement  to  that  Republic.     I  would 
gladly  have  you  give  some  reasons  for  these  views!  " 


236        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

"  Bah !  "  exclaimed  the  High  President  contempt- 
uously, "  the  old-time  Republic,  eh !  Could  any- 
thing more  evil,  corrupt,  hypocritical,  farcical  and 
criminal  exist  under  the  sun  than  that  old-time  Re- 
public of  yours  1  All  modern  thinkers,  writers  and 
sociologists  are  agreed  as  to  that.  You  have  heard 
me  say  that  of  the  two  the  present  monarchy  was  the 
Letter  institution,  and  I  spoke  advisedly." 

"  What  —  what !  "  stammered  the  Professor,  fairly 
taken  aback  at  the  directness  and  violence  of  the  at- 
tack.    "  Your  reasons,  sir  —  your  reasons  !  " 

"  Reasons  ?  "  repeated  the  High  President.  "  They 
will  not  be  hard  to  give.  To-day  we  have  only  one 
King.  He  is  great  and  rich  and  powerful,  so  much 
so  that  he  need  seek  no  further  self-advantages  but 
may  rest  content  with  all  that  which  is  his.  He  need 
have  an  eye  only  to  the  welfare  of  his  nation  and  his 
people.  We  have  an  aristocracy,  too ;  also  great  and 
rich,  so  much  so  that  they  can  well  afford  to  lay  self- 
interest  aside  and  seek  public  life  with  a  view  solely 
to  the  greater  glory  of  their  country.  There  are  ex- 
ceptions to  this,  of  course,  but  I  speak  of  our  aris- 
tocracy as  a  class.  Then,  too,  our  aristocrats  of  to- 
day have  been  aristocrats  for  a  sufficient  time  to  be 
at  least  free  from  the  shortcomings,  the  arrogance 
and  the  vices  which  have  ever  marked  the  parvenu. 
ZS'ow  let  us  look  at  the  old-time  Republic !  " 

"  Yes,  yes,"  exclaimed  the  Professor,  bending  for- 
ward in  his  eagerness. 

"  The  old-time  Republic,"  continued  the  High 
President,  "  had  not  one  king  but  many.  You  had 
not  a  monarch  —  serene  and  majestic,  clothed  in  the 
royal  purple,  bearing  the  sceptre  and  crown  and  sur- 
rounded by  the  glitter  and  the  glory  of  an  imperial 
court.  Instead,  the  land  was  divided  up  among  a 
parcel  of  little  rulers  —  men  mostly  of  low  origin 


THE  MASKED  VISITOR  237 

and  ignoble  ideals  — who  really  exercised  kingly 
power.  Take  your  proud  Empire  State  of  New 
York  —  a  state  as  broad,  as  rich  and  as  populous  as 
some  of  the  great  empires  of  Europe.  Two  little 
kings  reigned  there  — the  one,  a  small,  shrivelled, 
old  man  who  divided  his  time  between  the  handling 
of  parcels  and  the  pulling  of  political  wires;  the 
other  a  beetle-browed,  sullen  ruler,  whose  brutal 
hands,  reeking  with  crime  and  corruption,  were  ever 
stretched  forth  to  grasp  further  plunder." 

"  By  heaven  !  "  exclaimed  Mortimer,  "  was  it  reallv 
as  bad  as  that !  " 

"  I  am  quoting  to  you  almost  literally  from  the 
chronicles  of  the  times,"  replied  the  High  President. 

IJiese  two  little  kings  absolutely  ruled  the  state  be- 
tween them.     It  was  at  their  royal  behest  that  gov- 
ernors were  nominated  and  elected,   legislators  se- 
lected and  judges  put  upon  the  bench.     When  any 
opposition    to    their    respective    rules    appeared    to 
threaten  them,  they  promptly  joined  forces,  fought 
shoulder  to  shoulder  and,  under  prearranged  agree- 
ment, divided  the  subsequent  plunder.     Behind  them 
was  an  armed  banditti  of  many  thousand  men,  known 
as  a  police  force  and  supposed  to  be  organized  for  the 
protection  and  enforcement  of  law  and  order.     As 
a  matter  of  fact,  this  force  was  nothing  less  than  an 
organized  body  of  ravishers  and  despoilers,  preying 
upon  the  people  and  levying  tribute  right  and  left 
It  is  safe  to  say  that  the  operations  of  all  the  banditti 
since  the  beginning  of  the  Christian  era,  nor  any  in- 
vading army,    ever  equaled  in  the  amount  of  loot 
secured  the  operations  of  the  force  I  speak  of  which 
stood  behind  these  two  kings." 

"  Well,  well,"  exclaimed  Mortimer ;  "  things  must 
have  been  pretty  bad  in  your  Republic,  Professor !  " 
Dean  lowered  his  eyes  as  one  who  is  ashamed. 


238       THE  FIRST  AMERICAN"  KING 

"  There  is  much  that  is  correct  in  all  this,"  he 
said ;  "  much  that  I  cannot  truthfuly  contradict. 
But  proceed." 

"  Aye,  and  proceed  I  will,"  replied  the  High  Presi- 
dent stoutly.  "  The  aristocracy  which  surrounded 
these  kings  —  that  is,  the  men  who  formed  their 
courts  and  helped  to  administer  the  public  affairs  — 
were  in  many  instances  vulgar  publicans;  men  who 
derived  their  incomes  by  the  maintenance  of  grogger- 
ies  and  low  dancing  houses,  or  worse  —  gamblers, 
touts,  and  a  sprinkling  of  ex-convicts  and  little  law- 
yers. Such  was  the  aristocracy  and  the  environment 
of  these  kings  —  the  men  who  really  ruled  the  land. 
I  have  spoken  so  far  of  the  proud  Empire  State  of 
Xew  York.  If  you  turn  to  the  East  or  to  the  South, 
the  middle  country  or  the  West,  you  will  find  that 
much  the  same  conditions  prevailed.  Deny  it,  if 
you  can !  " 

"  I  think,"  protested  the  Professor,  "  that  your 
criticism  is,  perhaps,  directed  into  too  narrow  chan- 
nels and  that  it  treats  too  much  of  certain  phases  of 
mere  partisan,  or  local  politics." 

"  But  was  not  each  State  sovereign  and  independ- 
ent," retorted  the  High  President,  "  and  did  not  each 
State  make  its  own  laws  and  govern  itself  generally  ? 
Then,  too,  how  was  the  Federal  government  itself 
made  up  except  from  the  combined  selections  of  the 
different  States?" 

"  Still,"  persisted  the  Professor,  "  I  think  that  your 
criticism  might  be  directed  toward  more  broad  and 
general  conditions  of  our  national  life." 

"  That,  too,  I  will  do  since  you  have  demanded  it," 
replied  the  High  President.  "  Let  us  go  back  to  the 
days  of  almost  primeval  man.  What  did  the  chief 
of  the  tribe,  or  band,  do  ?  He  parcelled  out  the  best 
of  the  plunder,  or  possessions,  among  his  strongest 


THE  MASKED  VISITOK  239 

fighting  men,  or  else  among  the  priests,  or  medicine 
men,  or  whoever  was  equally  powerful  with  the  fight- 
ing men  in  his  particular  way.  Take  it  again  in 
feudal  England.  What  did  the  feudal  Kings  do  there 
after  the  Norman  Conquest  ?  They  divided  the  best 
lands  of  the  country  among  the  powerful  Barons  who 
formed  their  Court.  And  so  it  was  in  your  Repub- 
lic. The  good  things  of  the  land  —  the  great  public 
franchises  —  were  all  parcelled  out  to  these  modern 
feudal  Barons  who  waxed  fat  and  built  their  wealth 
into  the  millions  upon  that  which  had  been  given 
them  at  the  expense  of  the  people." 

"  But  there  were,  I  remember,  various  objections 
raised,"  said  the  Professor,  "  to  any  other  course  be- 
ing adopted  —  such  as  government  ownership." 

"  Objections !  "  exclaimed  the  High  President  con- 
temptuously ;  "  objections  can  be  raised  to  anything. 
The  murderer  doubtless  has  his  objections  to  the  gal- 
lows and  the  thief  strongly  objects  to  the  jail.  There 
was  at  least  one  shining  example  of  government 
ownership  in  those  days.  Was  there  anything  so  re- 
liable or  so  admirably  administered  as  the  public 
mails  —  entirely  conducted  by  the  government? 
How  is  it  possible  in  a  true  Republic  to  contemplate 
that  which  belongs  to  the  public  being  given  away  for 
the  benefit  and  enrichment  of  the  few  and  the  public 
correspondingly  robbed  to  that  extent." 

"  And  yet,"  remarked  the  Professor,  "  in  spite  of 
these  criticisms' which  you  make,  it  seemed  to  be  gen- 
erally admitted  that  our  people  under  the  Republic 
had  better  reason  to  be  contented  than  the  people  of 
any  other  nation  on  the  face  of  the  globe." 

"  And  so  they  had  the  right  to  expect  to  be,"  re- 
torted the  High  President,  "  but  surely  what  you 
advance  is  no  argument.  Ought  the  people  here  to 
be  satisfied  merely  because  they  are  comparatively 


210       THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

better  off  tlian  the  people  of  Scandinavia  and  the  peo- 
ple of  Scandinavia  in  turn  be  well  content  because 
they  are  comparatively  better  off  than  the  people  of 
the  interior  of  China  ?  But  let  us  look  further  into 
the  question  as  to  how  well  the  people  under  the  Re- 
public were  contented.  Were  they  really  contented, 
or  did  they  individually  accept  existing  conditions 
Jjecause  they  could  discover  no  particular  way  of 
changing  them  ?  Do  you  think  that  the  average  man 
among  the  great  masses  of  the  people  was  satisfied 
to  work  all  his  life  for  a  pittance  which  was  insuffi- 
cient in  most  instances  to  fully  furnish  him,  year  in 
and  year  out,  with  the  actual  necessaries  of  life  and 
see  another  man,  of  the  same  clay  as  himself,  who 
could  afford  to  squander  aimlessly  in  one  day  upon  an 
old  bit  of  cracked  porcelain,  a  piece  of  painted  can- 
vas, or  some  drab  of  the  footlights,  whose  complexion 
was  as  false  as  her  soul,  as  much  money  as  that  other 
man  earned  in  a  lifetime.  And  yet  the  one  man  was, 
perhaps,  fully  as  well  endowed  physically  and  men- 
tally as  the  other  and  the  life  work  of  the  one  was 
fully  as  useful  to  the  community  as  the  work  of  the 
other.  Why,  then,  this  awful  disparity  ?  Do  you 
know,  too,  that  statistics  show  that  of  ten  adults  dying 
under  your  vaunted  Republic,  nine  went  out  of  this 
world  subjects  for  Potter's  Field  ?  I  do  not  mean 
by  this  that  they  were  actually  so  interred,  for  the 
love  and  respect  of  friends  who  lent  their  aid  usu- 
ally saved  them  from  this,  but  I  do  mean  that  nine 
out  of  ten  died  without  leaving  sufficient  behind  them, 
after  a  lifetime  of  honest,  unremitting  toil,  to  act- 
ually pay  their  burial  expenses." 

"  I  was  unaware  of  that,"  said  the  Professor,  "  and 
it  certainly  is  a  shocking  disclosure." 

"  Shocking,  indeed !  "  retorted  the  High  President. 
"  I  do  not  think  there  is  any  disputing  that.     And 


THE  MASKED  VISITOE  241 

do  you  believe  that  the  people  were  satisfied  on  the 
land  question  ?  It  does  not  require  any  great  depth 
of  learning  in  political  economy  to  know  that  the 
source  of  all  wealth  is  the  land.  All  that  which  we 
have  is  either  taken  from  the  earth,  or  else  is  grown 
upon  or  fed  from  the  surface  of  the  earth.  Is  it  to 
be  believed  that  God  put  the  minerals,  the  oil,  the 
coal  into  the  earth  for  the  benefit  of  an  exclusive  few, 
or  that  he  put  them  there  for  the  joint  and  common 
benefit  of  the  masses  of  mankind  ?  Did  He  make 
the  surface  of  the  earth  fruitful  and  send  the  showers 
and  the  sunshine,  which  alone  enable  it  to  fructify, 
for  the  benefit  of  a  chosen  few,  or  for  the  common 
benefit  of  all  ?  That  the  former  was  the  case  seems 
to  have  been  the  theory  which  prevailed  under  the  Ke- 
public,  for  we  find  that  the  great  bulk  of  the  land  was 
owned  by  the  comparative  few.  Do  you  think  the 
masses  of  the  great  cities  were  individually  satisfied 
that  acre  upon  acre  of  city  blocks  should  be  owned 
by  certain  families  to  whom  all  those  dwelling  in 
those  blocks  paid  a  heavy  rent  tribute  year  in,  year 
out  —  a  tribute  amounting  upon  an  average  from  one- 
fourth  to  one-third  of  the  total  income  earned  ?  What 
substantial  difference  was  there  between  this  and 
medieval  feudalism  ?  And  what  did  those  land- 
cornerers  do  with  the  vast  surplus  sums  accumulated 
from  the  tribute  wrung  from  those  rent  slaves  ?  The 
chronicles  show  that  they  cast  about  them  for  com- 
munities as  yet  in  their  incipiency  but  presenting  pos- 
sibilities of  growing  into  populous  centres  of  activity. 
In  these  growing  communities,  these  land-gluttons 
bought  up  the  best  portions  of  realty,  which  they  let 
lie  for  the  time  being,  unused  and  unimproved,  pay- 
ing merely  the  low  tax  imposed  upon  unimproved 
property.  The  community  was  built  up  by  the  enter- 
prise, the  labor  and  the  efforts  of  the  massses ;  it  grew 

'      16 


242        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

into  a  city  and  became  populous ;  its  land  became  val- 
uable. When  their  vacant  lots  had  acquired  value 
through  the  efforts  of  the  people  —  efforts  in  which 
they  had  in  no  way  participated  —  these  land-cor- 
nerers  put  up  structures  and  proceeded  with  the  old 
game  of  levying  the  rent  tribute.  If  ever  there  was 
an  instance  of  unjust  enrichment,  it  was  this." 

The  Professor  remained  thoughtfully  silent. 

"  Talk  not  to  me  of  the  old-time  Republic,"  con- 
tinued the  High  President ;  "  it  died  because  of  its 
innate  rottenness  —  because  of  the  apathy  of  its  peo- 
ple —  and  the  littleness  and  corruption  of  its  public 
men.  Look  at  the  infamous  record  of  your  Food 
Trusts,  which  forced  up  the  prices  of  many  articles 
of  food  so  that  they  were  beyond  the  reach  of  the 
great  mass  of  the  poorer  people.  Contemplate  the 
Coal  Trust,  whose  directing  powers  first  advanced, 
under  the  Republic,  the  hitherto  exclusively  monar- 
chical claim  of  Divine  Right,  and  proceeded  to  ma- 
nipulate the  coal  supply  so  that  citizens  of  the  Repub- 
lic were  frozen  to  death,  while  thousands  of  unknown 
and  unrecorded  others  undoubtedly  perished  from 
diseases  incurred  as  a  result  of  insufficient  warmth. 
The  unfortunate  poor  might  have  derived  a  little 
benefit  by  burning  oil,  but  what  did  the  eminent  citi- 
zen of  that  day  do  who,  while  not  claiming  to  be 
God's  anointed,  yet  had  contrived  to  absorb  all  the 
oil  of  the  country  ?  Why,  he  promptly  took  advan- 
tage of  the  situation  and  raised  the  price  of  oil.  It 
is  true  that  at  the  same  time  he,  with  reckless  gener- 
osity, contributed  some  ten  thousand  dollars  to  a 
benevolent  enterprise,  but  in  the  meantime  he  had 
pocketed  a  cool  million  by  the  advancement  of  the 
price  of  his  commodity.  Here  was  a  million  wrung 
out  of  the  sufferings  of  God's  poor  and  a  sop  of  ten 
thousand  dollars  thrown  out  to  hoodwink  and  propi- 


THE  MASKED  VISITOR  243 

tiate  the  Almighty.  What  must  have  been  the 
Deity's  sentiments  over  this  estimate  of  the  financial 
perspicacity  which  sought  to  deceive  him  by  such 
a  ruse  —  a  ruse  which  would  have  been  apparent  to 
the  intelligence  of  the  dullest  office-boy  employed  in 
a  commercial  institution  !  " 

"  All  those  events  were  duly  criticised  at  the  time," 
murmured  the  Professor,  "  and  came  in  for  their 
share  of  censure." 

"Criticism  —  censure!"  exclaimed  the  High 
President  with  disgust.  "  But  what  did  the  people 
do  %  Did  they  seize  upon  those  who  withheld  the  food 
and  the  warmth  and  rush  them  to  public  execution, 
as  did  the  people  of  France  with  their  oppressing 
nobles  in  the  days  of  the  great  French  Revolution  ? 
Xo ;  they  did  nothing !  They  waited  and  stared  and 
suffered  like  dumb  cattle  driven  to  the  shambles. 
And  the  public  men  of  the  day  ?  They  conferred  a 
good  deal  and  they  even  threatened  a  little,  but  —  it 
was  a  very  respectful  threatening  in  the  face  of 
Mighty  Capital.  The  Chief  Magistrate  of  the  Na- 
tion in  that  day  was  a  man  still  young  —  a  man 
strong,  vigorous  and  bold,  who  had  filled  various 
public  offices  ably  and  well  and  had  proved  himself 
a  brave  soldier  in  the  field.  He  was  the  people's 
idol  and  the  people's  hope.  There  was  food  in  plenty 
to  be  had  from  other  lands,  but  it  was  shut  out  from 
the  people's  use  by  an  exorbitant  protective  tariff. 
Remove  this  tariff  and  food  would  have  flooded  in 
upon  the  people  in  boundless  store  and  the  corner  in 
Monopoly  and  Death  have  been  crushed  out  of  exis- 
tence in  a  week.  Congress  held  the  vested  right  to 
do  whatsoever  might  be  necessary  for  the  welfare  or 
safety  of  the  people  and  a  ringing  message,  couched 
in  his  old-time,  fearless  form,  from  this  Chief  Magis- 
trate would  have  set  the  people  throughout  the  length 


244        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

and  breadth  of  the  land  ablaze  with  enthusiasm.  It 
would  have  put  him  beyond  the  power  of  any  clique 
or  party,  and  would  have  exalted  him  to  the  highest 
pinnacle  of  popular  idolatry  as  the  man  of  the  hour, 
the  people's  choice !  His  party  would  not  have  dared 
to  say  him  nay,  for  individually  and  alone  he  would 
have  stood  stronger  than  his  party.  It  was  an  oppor- 
tunity such  as  rarely  comes  to  a  ruler.  But  the  voice 
of  the  cautious  counselors  surrounding  him  in  his 
exalted  station  whispered  in  his  ear :  '  You  have 
been  accused  of  being  too  bold,  as  lacking  in  conser- 
vatism. Do  not  frighten,  or  attack,  the  great  money 
interests  —  those  representing  the  sacred  and  vested 
Rights  of  Capital  —  lest  in  their  fear  they  turn  and 
destroy  you  ! '  And  he  hearkened  to  this  counsel.  It 
is  true,  I  believe,  that  a  measure  was  finally  passed 
temporarily  admitting  foreign  coal  free  of  tariff 
charge,  but  this  measure  came  too  late.  The  Presi- 
dent's brave  heart  bled  for  the  people,  but  his  old- 
time  fearlessness  forsook  him  and  he  failed  them. 
And  when  he  so  failed  them,  the  last  hope  of  the  Re- 
public went  out.  The  Republic  was  doomed.  The 
shadows  of  Plutocracy  and  of  Monarchy  lowered  over 
the  land!" 

"  And  the  Monarchy  which  came  was  an  improve- 
ment, you  consider,  upon  the  Republic  which  pre- 
ceded ?  "  asked  the  Professor. 

"  At  least  in  this  respect,"  answered  the  High 
President,  "  that  under  a  monarchy  we  may  reason- 
ably look  for  class  distinction,  for  great  wealth  on  the 
one  side  and  for  great  poverty  on  the  other,  but  in  a 
true  Republic,  one  worthy  of  the  name,  such  dis- 
tinction is  as  unnatural  as  it  is  iniquitous." 

"  Ah,  now  you  are  about  to  criticise  the  Monarchy, 
I  suspect !  "  exclaimed  Mortimer.     "  But,  pray  tell 


THE  MASKED  VISITOK  245 

me,  is  your  Nihilism  going  to  cure  all  these  evils  you 
have  portrayed  ? " 

"  You  speak  of  Nihilism,"  answered  the  High 
President  gravely,  "  as  if  it  were  the  beginning  and 
end  of  the  entire  programme.  As  a  matter  of  fact, 
Nihilism  is  only  the  beginning.  As  I  have  told  you, 
we  must  first  wipe  out  existing  institutions  so  that 
we  may  properly  build  up  a  new  Commonwealth,  or 
Republic,  founded  upon  the  abolition  of  industrial 
slavery,  the  brotherhood  of  man  and  the  more  equal 
apportionment  of  benefits  to  the  race." 

"  But  you  spoke  particularly  of  the  evils  of  indi- 
vidual land  ownership,"  persisted  Mortimer. 
"  Would  you  under  your  scheme  do  away  with  that  \  " 

"  I  undoubtedly  would,"  answered  the  High  Presi- 
dent. "  It  seems  to  me  a  proposition  beyond  argu- 
ment that  God  created  the  land  and  all  within  it  for 
the  benefit  of  mankind  in  general  and  not  for  the 
benefit  of  a  given  few.  The  land  should  no  more  be 
owned  individually  than  the  air,  or  the  seas.  It 
should  be  the  property  of  all  and  inure  to  the  benefit 
of  all  —  in  a  word,  belong  to  the  State.  Those  using 
land,  either  urban  or  agricultural,  should  lease  from 
the  State  and  pay  the  rent  tribute  to  the  State  and 
the  benefits  of  the  land  —  created  by  God  for  all  — 
would  thus  inure  to  the  benefit  of  all." 

"  Would  not  this  tend  to  accumulate,"  suggested 
the  Professor,  "  too  vast  sums  in  the  hands  of  the 
State  —  sums  so  vast  that  there  would  constantly  be  a 
stringency  of  money  and  a  consequent  business  par- 
alysis % " 

"  The  answer  to  that,"  replied  the  High  President, 
"  is  that  the  State  could  by  magnificent  public  im- 
provements and  in  a  hundred  other  ways  find  means 
of  rapidly  disposing  of  any  such  surplus  it  might  ac- 
quire.    It  could,  if  necessary,  pay  out  dividends  to 


246        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KIXG 

its  citizens,  as  the  big  corporations  do  to  their  share- 
holders. This  objection  yon  have  advanced  and  a 
thousand  others,  will  ever  be  urged  to  any  change 
looking  to  an  improvement  of  things.  The  people 
thus  opposing  will  be  found  describing  their  opposi- 
tion as  Conservatism.  The  true  definition  of  a  Con- 
servatism is  a  man  very  well  off,  who  finds  things  pre- 
eminently satisfactory  for  him  as  they  are  and  is, 
therefore,  opposed  to  any  change.  Priestcraft,  when 
it  held  communities  and  nations  under  its  subjection, 
the  feudal  barons,  emperors,  kings  and  modern  plu- 
tocrats —  these,  all  these,  you  will  find  to  have  been 
staunch  advocates  of  Conservatism.  Did  you  ever 
reflect,"  continued  the  High  President,  "  upon  the 
inequality  and  injustice  of  existing  laws  of  property 
ownership  ?  When  a  man  composes  an  opera,  or 
indites  a  book  of  poems,  or  writes  a  novel,  or  devises 
some  new  and  useful  invention,  he  plays  the  part  of  a 
creator.  Out  of  his  own  brain  alone  that  production 
has  evolved.  It  did  not  exist  before  he  gave  it  birth 
and  the  world  is  so  much  the  richer.  If  ever  a  man 
can  be  said  to  have  a  proprietary  right  in  anything, 
it  is  to  that  property  which  actually  was  evolved  from 
and  created  by  himself  alone.  Yet,  in  the  case  of  an 
author,  or  composer,  the  Law  protects  him  in  that 
property  right  for  only  twenty-eight  years,  and  in  the 
case  of  the  inventor  for  only  seventeen  years.  After 
that,  their  respective  productions  pass  into  the  public 
domain  —  become  public  property.  But  the  man 
who  for  a  mere  trifle  acquires  a  tract,  or  parcel,  of 
land  —  which  he  certainly  had  no  part  in  creating 
or  putting  there  —  and  holds  it  while  a  city  builds 
about  him  and  the  land  is  made  valuable  by  the  pres- 
ence and  the  efforts  of  the  community  at  large  —  that 
man  owns  that  land  in  perpetuity;  it  is  the  property 
of  him  and  his  heirs  forever.     And  the  Law  itself! 


THE  MASKED  VISITOR  247 

What  a  monstrous  combination  of  illogical  deduction 
and  of  systematic  injustice!  The  Law!  Five  years 
required  to  adjudicate  a  case  which  would  be  suffi- 
ciently disposed  of  in  as  many  hours  under  any  mod- 
ern system  of  businesslike  administration  —  the  Law 
which  can  only  be  invoked  under  conditions  of  ex- 
pense absurdly  disproportionate  to  the  results.  Just 
think  of  a  system  which  is  supposed  to  adjudicate 
and  do  substantial  justice  between  man  and  man  and 
yet  which  nine  men  out  of  ten  in  the  community  will 
tell  you  means  ruin  to  resort  to !  The  Law  in  its 
methods  of  procedure  is  a  century,  or  more,  behind 
the  times  and  the  learned  and  time-honored  profession 
of  the  Law  is,  in  reality,  the  profession  of  the  modern 
highwayman.  There  is  no  form  of  modern  evil 
which  more  seriously  demands  the  application  of  the 
principles  of  Nihilism  than  the  Law  as  it  to-day  ex- 
ists !  " 

"  And  if  your  New  Republic  could  be  estab- 
lished," asked  Mortimer,  "  you  would  be  in  favor  of 
ruthlessly  despoiling  all  the  present  land  owners  of 
their  holdings  and  escheating  these  holdings  to  the 
State?" 

"  That  need  not  necessarily  be  done,"  answered  the 
High  President.  "  It  would  be  no  very  difficult  mat- 
ter to  assess  the  land  at  a  fair  valuation  and  for  the 
State  to  pay  to  the  owners  thereof  a  given  annual 
percentage  for  say  fifty  years  to  come,  subject  to  cer- 
tain qualifications.  This  would  result  in  eventually 
reimbursing  to  the  owners  far  more  than  they  had 
originally  expended  and  would  give  them  ample  time 
to  accommodate  themselves  to  the  new  condition  of 
things.  Of  course,  manifold  objections,  both  techni- 
cal and  financial,  will  be  urged  to  the  feasibility  of 
this  plan  —  especially  by  those  with  tendencies  to 
Conservatism  —  but  I  apprehend  there  are  no  ob- 


248        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

stacles  to  its  successful  execution  which  cannot  be 
overcome  and  it  would  certainly  be  immeasurably  su- 
perior to  the  present  system.  With  public  franchises 
and  the  Nation's  land  thus  inuring  to  the  benefit  of 
the  whole  people,  the  possibility  of  building  up  for- 
tunes of  two  hundred  and  three  hundred  millions,  or 
even  of  eight  or  ten  millions,  would  be  done  away 
with.     Surely  this  would  be  no  misfortune !  " 

"  But,"  said  the  Professor,  "  I  have  heard  the  ob- 
jection raised  to  plans  of  this  nature  that  their  adop- 
tion would  tend  to  lessen  competitive  activity  and 
deaden  men's  energy  and  ambition  generally." 

"  The  objection  is  ill-founded,"  replied  the  High 
President.  "  If  the  maximum  which  a  man  might 
hope  to  attain  were  fixed  at  one  million,  or  less,  men 
would  strive  just  as  zealously  for  the  fixed  amount 
as  they  would  when  the  possibilities  are  unlimited. 
As  it  is  now,  money  makes  money.  It  is  not  so  much 
the  billionaire  himself  who  earns  as  the  sheer  weight 
of  money  behind  him  which  accomplishes.  He  is 
not  called  upon  to  exercise  any  particular  creative 
effort  on  his  part  and,  worst  of  all,  he  handicaps  the 
efforts  of  others  more  worthy.  In  any  event,  the 
guiding  spirit  of  our  New  Republic  will  be  the  happi- 
ness and  welfare  of  the  many,  as  against  the  particular 
interests  and  privileges  of  the  few." 

"  You  have  compared  the  old-time  Republic  ad- 
versely with  the  existing  Monarchy,"  said  the  Pro- 
fessor, with  whom  this  seemed  to  be  a  sore  point, 
"  yet  from  the  little  I  have  learned  it  seems  to  me 
that  the  wrongs  of  the  masses  are  as  great  under  the 
monarchy  as  ever  they  were  under  the  Republic." 

"  To  what  phase  do  you  refer  in  particular  ?  "  asked 
the  High  President. 

"  To  the  matter  of  their  general  welfare,"  replied 
the  Professor.     "  For  instance,  I  understand  that  the 


THE  MASKED  VISITOR  249 

coal  supply  is  to  be  cornered  this  winter  and  im- 
measurable want  and  suffering  inflicted  broadcast." 
«fl      in  /^"^d   the   High   President  quickly 
thank  God  that  necessity  will  be  obviated !  » 
Indeed !     How  so  ?  " 

v'7^Ter^e^een  new  de^lopments  recently  »  re- 
plied the  High  President.  «  Matters  have  perfected 
tiiemselves  more  rapidly  than  was  anticipated.  There 
will  be  no  necessity  to  wait  until  next  winter  The 
hour  has  come !     The  New  Republic  is  at  hand !  " 

Ibe  JNfew  Republic  is  at  hand!  "  repeated  Morti 
mer    smilmg.     « ^%  you  gpeak  of    *£*$*<* ; 

public  of  yours  almost  as  if  it  were  an  accomplished 

"So  nearly  an   accomplished   fact,"   replied  the 
High  President,   "that  within  ten  days  if  will  be 

ThPvlW°-rdi  WTG  UUered  grave1^  and  impressively. 
Ihey  carried  a  strange  conviction.  ' 

sJZ^  mT?Gn\  Mrtimfr/at  Silent'  Stari^  at  the 
speaker      Then  he  leaned  forward  in  his  chair. 

w^ltJ^**  eXiStinS  f°rm  °f  g°Vem- 
«  ^1DS  of  the  Past  —  overthrown !  " 
this  is  preposterous!"  eried  Mortimer,  a  wave 
of  anger  flushing  his  brow.     « I  see  you  surrounded 
%Z        ""J""", ¥  PrePa«"™  and  power  o?her 
I  hel,Vvrt,T     W0UU  SOem  t0  me  but  idle  Woriags. 
J?}  T/      y°"  are  enga§'ed  iu  an  a™ed  conspiracy 
against  the  government,  but  that  it  will  be  sujessfcd 

ItZ  aU  mTDt  b6lieVe-  And>"  te  «<Im,d  with 
biting  sarcasm  as  his  anger  rose,  "  it  is  indeed  typieal 
of  the  strength  and  character  of  your  organization 
when  its  admitted  head  does  not  dare  to&diseourse 
sedition  and  treason  in  the  presence  of  an  officer  ol 


250        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN"  KING 

the  King  save  in  closest  concealment  and  with,  masked 
face!" 

The  High  President  started  slightly;  then  proudly 
raised  his  head: 

"  My  life  is  of  value,  not  so  much  to  me,  as  to  the 
cause  I  serve,"  he  said.  "  In  all  movements  of  this 
character  certain  precautions  are  essential.  But  the 
hour  of  precaution  is  well-nigh  past  and  is  certainly 
no  longer  needed  with  you  whom  we  safely  hold  in  our 
keeping.  I  came  to  you  thus  disguised,  because  I 
desired  to  speak  to  you  simply  as  the  head  of  this  or- 
ganization. I  deemed  it  best,  until  I  had  secured 
your  decision  on  a  matter  I  shall  present  to  you  soon. 
But  since  this  mask  is  made  the  means  of  a  taunt  to 
our  organization,  I  will  remove  it  and  meet  you  man 
to  man." 

As  the  High  President  ceased  speaking,  he  raised 
his  hands  to  the  mask  and  rapidly  loosened  the  strings. 

Sudenly  the  obscuring  mists  rolled  aside  from  the 
Professor's  brain,  and  before  the  mask  had  fairly 
been  removed  from  the  High  President's  features,  he 
sprang  to  his  feet  with  the  cry : 

"  General  Mainwarren !  " 


CHAPTEK  IV. 

UNFOLDING  THE  PLAN. 

Silence  from  all  three  succeeded  for  a  few  moments 
the  Professor's  startled  exclamation.  Then  the  High 
President  spoke. 

"  Now,"  he  said,  turning  to  Mortimer,  "  now  that 
I  have  removed  the  source  of  your  reproach,  I  trust 
you  will  give  weight  and  credence  to  my  words." 

"  General,"  answered  Mortimer,  -  your  great  mili- 
tary record,  and  your  eminence  as  one  of  the  financial 
powers  of  the  land,  are  known  to  me  as  they  are  to  the 
rest  of  the  world.  Your  words  must,  therefore,  have 
due  weight  with  me,  but  I  must  admit,  speaking 
frankly,  not  credence.  Were  almost  any  other  to 
speak  so,  I  should  regard  him  as  either  a  loose-brained 
visionary,  or  else  one  seeking  to  deceive.  With  you, 
I  realize  that  neither  is  the  case,  but  I  cannot  help 
considering  that  you  are  seriously  mistaken." 

"  It  is  precisely  to  show  you  I  am  right  that  I  am 
here,"  replied  the  High  President. 

"  I'm  much  flattered,"  said  Mortimer,  "  although 
I  fail  to  see  why  you  should  be  at  any  pains  on  that 
point." 

"  Never  mind  that  for  the  moment,"  answered  the 
High  President.  "  You  will  learn  the  reason  before 
our  interview  closes." 

Mortimer  bowed. 

"  I  will  begin  by  explaining  to  you,"  said  the  High 
President,  "  that  this  movement  had  its  origin  many 
years  ago  —  in  fact,   it  began   almost  immediately 

251 


252        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

alter  the  Monarchy  was  first  inaugurated.  It  began 
not  with  a  united,  organized  body  as  we  are  to-day, 
but  in  a  number  of  scattered,  disunited  elements  pos- 
sessed of  widely  divergent  aims  and  objects.  There 
were  those  who  were  opposed  to  the  monarchical  in- 
stitution and  who  desired  the  return  of  the  former 
Republic ;  there  were  others  —  and  these  were  by  far 
the  larger  and  more  important  body  —  who  were  pro- 
foundly dissatisfied  with  the  existing  economic  con- 
ditions and  who  eagerly,  if  vaguely,  aspired  to  a 
change  of  some  kind.  There  was  but  one  common 
chord  uniting  these  various  elements ;  all  were  dis- 
satisfied and  all  were  more  or  less  revolutionary.  For 
a  period  I  studied  the  problem  of  how  to  fuse  these 
various  scattered  elements  and  the  problem  seemed  so 
difficult  that  I  was  for  a  time  in  despair.  It  was  just 
at  that  period  that  by  a  strange  turn  of  Fate  —  or  by 
the  interposition  of  Divine  Providence,  as  some  may 
piously  believe  —  that  I  found  myself  in  a  position 
of  commanding  financial  power.  From  that  day  on 
the  road  grew  easier  for  me.  From  that  day  on,  I 
vowed  to  dedicate  my  life  to  raising  my  countrymen 
to  a  higher  plane  of  liberty  and  happiness  than  the 
world  had  vet  known.  Washington  had  led  them  to 
freedom  from  the  bondage  of  political  tyranny;  I 
would  seek  to  free  them  from  the  far  more  bitter 
tyranny  of  economic  bondage.  To  that  cause,  I  have 
through  the  years  devoted  my  fortune,  my  energies 
and  my  work.  To  that  cause  I  am  prepared,  if  need 
be,  to  lay  down  my  life." 

"  A  noble  ideal,  indeed !  "  exclaimed  the  Professor 
enthusiastically.    "  I  admire  and  respect  you  for  it." 

"  I  appreciate  the  spirit  which  has  animated  you, 
General,"  said  Mortimer,  "  although  I  dissent  from 
some  of  the  methods  you  may  have  adopted  in  its  ex- 
ecution." 


UNFOLDING  THE  PLAN  253 

"  My  first  care,"  said  the  High  President,  disre- 
garding the  interruption,  "  was  to  look  about  me  for 
some  means  of  unifying  the  various  scattered  elements 
of  political  and  economic  discontent.  This  I  soon 
perceived  could  not  be  quickly  done.  It  was  a  ques- 
tion of  time,  and  above  all,  of  education.  By  educa- 
tion, I  mean  teaching  the  individual  members  of  the 
different  elements  precisely  what  were  the  causes  of 
their  unhappiness  and  discontent,  wherein  the  true 
remedies  lay  and  just  what  were  the  conditions  they 
must  seek  to  attain.  To  this  end  I  carefully  trained 
a  corps  of  instructors,  men  and  women.  These  peo- 
ple preached  no  sedition ;  they  advocated  no  revolu- 
tionary movement.  They  simply  taught  a  new  form 
of  interesting  political  economy,  showing  people  why 
they  suffered  and  where  lay  the  remedy.  I  had  not 
so  much  interest  or  concern  for  the  great  mass  of  those 
forming  the  existing  army  of  discontent.  They 
were  mostly  too  set  in  their  own  old  ideas  and  aims, 
although  even  among  these  were  found  some  good 
material.  My  chief  attention  was  given  to  the  rising- 
generation.  Youth  is  easily  taught  and  the  impres- 
sions of  youth  are  usually  vivid  and  lasting.  It 
was  to  the  youth  of  the  land  we  turned  and  the  results 
exceeded  the  highest  expectations.  Before  long  there 
were  great  bodies  of  men  throughout  the  country  — 
men  eager  and  bold  with  the  intensity  of  youth  — 
who  were  filled  not  with  the  vague,  shadowy  ideas  of 
the  political  partisan,  but  with  a  clear  knowledge  of 
economics.  And  it  was  to  the  women  of  the  country 
—  to  the  mothers,  the  wives  and  the  sisters  —  that 
we  owed  this  most  largely  —  a  plan  which  I  once  had 
the  pleasure  of  suggesting  to  you  as  applicable  to  your 
day,  Professor  Dean." 

"  Ah,  yes,"  exclaimed  the  Professor,  "  but  little 


254        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

did  I  think  you  had  actually  put  it  into  practical  ex- 
ecution." 

"Well,  I  had,"  answered  the  High  President  dryly. 
"  While  this  work  of  education  was  going  on  I  was 
doing  everything  in  my  power  to  render  the  general 
conditions  hard  as  possible  for  the  masses.  It  was 
a  curious  dual  role  I  filled.  With  my  entire  being- 
pledged  to  their  ultimate  upraising  and  welfare,  I  was 
temporarily  inflicting  upon  them  terrible  hardship 
and  suffering.  By  many  I  was  regarded  as  a  monster 
in  human  form ;  even  the  Court  and  the  Chancellerie 
protested  against  what  seemed  to  be  my  insatiable 
exactions  —  protested  not  because  of  the  widespread 
misery  and  suffering  inflicted,  but  because  of  the 
dangerous  spirit  of  public  discontent  engendered. 
Ah,  little  they  suspected  that  it  was  precisely  this 
dangerous  spirit  of  discontent  which  I  sought  to  fos- 
ter and  to  feed,  for  it  is  through  the  suffering  and 
the  misery  of  the  people  that  the  spirit  is  awakened 
which  leads  to  great  changes.  In  the  light  of  this 
explanation,  Professor,  you  will  now  understand  the 
true  meaning  of  the  proposed  corner  in  coal  which  so 
aroused  your  horror  and  indignation." 

"  Ah,  I  see  it  all  now !  "  exclaimed  the  Professor. 

"  Thank  heaven,  there  will  now  be  no  necessity  for 
that  measure  and  the  awful  misery  and  suffering  it 
would  have  entailed,"  continued  the  High  President. 
"  But  I  will  pass  from  that  painful  subject.  In  addi- 
tion to  the  education  of  the  people  and  to  tuning  the 
public  spirit  to  the  proper  pitch  of  discontent  and  re- 
volt by  purposely  imposed  hardship  and  misery,  I 
was  busy  with  one  other  important  subject.  Govern- 
ments and  existing  conditions  may  eventually  be  over- 
thrown by  education  and  the  sentiment  of  the  masses, 
but  they  cannot  be  thus  directly  overthrown.  Gov- 
ernments  and  existing  conditions   are  backed,   sup- 


UNFOLDING  THE  PLAN  255 

ported  and  held  in  power  by  force,  which  is  really 
the  first  and  last  word  in  the  affairs  of  this  world. 
Education  as  to  cause,  effect  and  remedy  and  the 
fostering  of  the  necessary  sentiment  and  spirit  among 
the  masses  were  well  enough  by  way  of  general  intro- 
ductory processes,  but  if  the  overthrow  of  the  mon- 
archy and  the  establishment  of  a  new  order  of  things 
was  to  be  looked  for,  some  means  must  be  found  of 
successfully  overcoming  the  resistance  of  the  armed 
forces  of  the  King  and  of  the  Government.  Do  you 
follow  me  ? " 

"  Very  clearly,"  replied  Dean,  while  Mortimer 
nodded  a  silent  assent. 

"  As  a  soldier  trained  by  practical  experience  in  the 
art  of  war,"  continued  the  High  President,  "  I  re- 
alized how  utterly  futile  it  must  be  to  attempt  to  arm, 
drill  and  organize  a  sufficient  force  of  men  to  hope 
to  successfully  cope  in  open  warfare  with  the  trained 
soldiers  of  the  King.  To  achieve  successfully  any 
such  result,  I  must  discover  a  new  means  of  warfare 
which  would  give  my  attacking  force  some  immeasur- 
able advantage  over  our  opponents.  Not  an  easy 
problem  to  work  out,  eh,  Captain  Mortimer  ?  " 

"  Decidedly  not,"  replied  Mortimer  with  evident 
interest. 

"  As  you  are  perhaps  aware,"  resumed  the  High 
President,  "  among  the  different  great  business  in- 
terests to  which  I  came  into  possession  were  several 
which  involved  various  manufacturing  processes. 
Among  the  many  employes  in  my  shops  was  a  wild, 
aparently  half-crazy  sort  of  fellow  who  was,  how- 
ever, exceedingly  clever  as  an  inventor  and  who  had 
already  devised  several  really  very  ingenious  and 
meritorious  inventions.  The  man's  first  name  was 
Nicholas ;  we  will  suppress  for  the  present  his  last 
name.     He  was   American   born,   but  originally  of 


256        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

Polish  origin  and  his  forefathers  had  all,  I  under- 
stand, heen  inventors.  This  erratic  fellow  came  to 
me  one  day.  He  had  come  across  some  old-time 
pamphlets  or  treatises  in  the  library  upon  the  subject 
of  aerial  navigation.  There  was  one  treatise  by  a 
certain  Professor  Dean  which  seemed  to  attract  his 
interest  strongly.  He  was  full  of  the  project  and 
wanted  to  pursue  an  extended  line  of  investigation  of 
aerial  navigation.  I  confess  I  listened  with  scant  in- 
terest. The  field  seemed  to  me  an  unprofitable  one 
commercially,  for  I  could  not  see  what  practical  bene- 
fit from  a  transportation  standpoint  would  be  gained 
by  aerial  navigation.  It  was  doubtless  for  this  very 
reason,  I  argued  to  myself,  that  the  subject  had  thus 
far  not  been  more  fully  taken  up  and  advanced. 
Nicholas,  however,  was  evidently  not  easily  to  be  dis- 
couraged and  I  regarded  his  enthusiasm  as  a  species 
of  misfortune.  Here  was  one  of  my  valuable  men 
off  on  a  tangent  and  the  result  could  only  be  that  I 
would  be  a  loser  of  his  best  efforts.  However,  I  did 
not  abruptly  refuse  Nicholas,  but  out  of  consideration 
for  his  feelings  promised  to  give  the  matter  some  fur- 
ther thought." 

"Ah,"  exclaimed  the  Professor,  "  how  history  re- 
peats itself !  It  was  always  my  experience  whenever 
I  approached  men  of  position  and  power  on  that  very 
subject  to  meet  with  discouragement  and  doubt." 

"  Listen  to  the  sequel,"  said  the  High  President. 
"  That  night  I  walked  in  my  grounds.  It  was  a 
rarely  beautiful  night,  with  a  high,  clear  sky  and  a 
bright,  full  moon.  My  mind  was  occupied  with  its 
still  unsolved  problem.  I  looked  up  to  the  heavens 
above  me,  as  if  to  seek  there  inspiration  and  light. 
Suddenly  the  thought  flashed  into  my  mind :  What 
if  an  attack  could  be  delivered  from  the  skies  above 
—  from  the  very  heavens  themselves !  Such  an  at- 
tacking force  would  be  absolutely  safe  from  attack 


UNFOLDING  THE  PLAN  257 

itself,  while  by  dropping  high  explosives  upon  any 
enemy  below  it  could  inflict  untold  devastation. 
Then  Nicholas  came  into  my  mind." 

"  But  such  form  of  attack  is  expressly  forbidden 
by  the  rules  of  international  warfare !  "  exclaimed 
Mortimer. 

"  I  am  aware  of  that,"  answered  the  High  Presi- 
dent, "  but  the  rules  of  international  warfare  do  not 
aPPly  t°  revolutions  by  a  people  against  their  gov- 
ernment." 
,"I  suppose  not,"  admitted  Mortimer  grudgingly. 

"  The  next  morning  I  sent  for  Nicholas,"  said  the 
High  President.  "  He  found  a  much  changed  man. 
It  will  be  needless  for  me  to  recount  to  you  the  ten 
thousand  and  one  details  in  connection  with  the  per- 
fecting of  our  plans;  our  secret  work  of  invention, 
our  secret  processes  of  manufacture,  our  secret 
places  of  trial  and  concealment  of  finished  machines. 
Take,  for  instance,  where  we  now  are.  We  have  here 
quite  an  extensive  strip  of  territory,  in  a  wild,  little 
frequented  region.  It  is  held  as  private  property. 
In  the  heart  of  this  territory  is  this  valley  shut  in  on 
all  sides  by  mountain  heights  —  and  it  affords  us 
ample  opportunity  of  carrying  on  such  work  as  may 
be  necessary,  quite  safe  from  observation.  On  every 
side  our  men  are  out  in  the  guise  of  keepers,  care- 
fully guarding  every  avenue  of  approach  against  pos- 
sible chance  of  intrusion.  Similar  strips  of  territory 
and  similar  retreats  we  hold  in  various  other  parts 
of  the  country,  for  our  plans  are  far  too  carefully  laid 
for  us  to  trust  all  our  eggs  to  one  basket.  Let  it  be 
enough  for  me  to  say  that  everything  has  thus  far  pro- 
gressed most  satisfactorily  and  that  we  have  to-day 
concealed  in  various  places,  all  finished  and  ready  for 
use,  a  sufficient  number  of  air-ships,  large  and  small, 
to -carry  out  our  plans.     All  this  has  been  done  with 

17 


25S        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

such  well-managed  quietude  and  secrecy  that  not  the 
slightest  inkling  has  the  government  of  the  true  state 
of  affairs.  You  will  now  understand,  Professor 
Dean,  what  I  meant  the  day  I  remarked  to  you  that 
your  investigations  in  the  line  of  aerial  navigatipn 
were  more  important  to  the  world  than  you  dreamed 
of.  You  will  also  understand  why  it  was  that  I  was 
so  desirous  of  inducing  you  to  leave  the  Court  and 
come  to  me  to  pursue  your  further  work  in  that  di- 
rection. It  was  not  that  I  really  needed  you  to  de- 
velop air-ships,  for  that  had  already  been  accom- 
plished; but  I  feared  you  might  produce  them  for 
the  benefit  of  the  government.  Such  possible  pro- 
duction was  to  us  the  most  serious  menace  to  our 
course,  as  you  will  doubtless  realize." 

"  Yes ;  now  that  I  understand  all  the  circum- 
stances," answered  the  Professor,  "  I  see  that  very 
clearly." 

"  As  it  was,"  said  the  High  President,  "  you  cer- 
tainly sprang  your  air-ship  upon  us  with  remarkable 
rapidity.  I  congratulate  you  upon  your  work  and  our- 
selves upon  the  fact  that  we  have  succeeded  in  cap- 
turing you  and  your  ship  before  you  had  gone  fur- 
ther. You  can  imagine  the  surprise  to  our  fellows 
when  they  hailed  and  discovered  that  they  were  be- 
ing pursued  by  a  Royal  air-ship.  They  are  indeed 
to  be  commended  for  the  discretion  and  skill  with 
which  they  acted." 

"  In  what  respect  ?  "  asked  the  Professor. 

u  They  had  a  machine  on  board,"  answered  the 
High  President,  "  which  would  have  blown  you  to 
atoms,  had  they  so  desired,  or  they  could  have  clapped 
on  speed  and  have  escaped  you.  Had  they  been 
fools,  they  would  have  done  one  or  the  other.  Being 
sensible  men,  they  did  neither.  They  simply  reg- 
ulated their  speed  so  as  to  lure  you  on  and  thus  lead 


UNFOLDING  THE  PLAN"  259 

to  your  capture.  You  see,  it  was  desirable  to  ascer- 
tain as  much  about  you  as  possible  and  learn  how 
grave  a  peril  to  us  your  presence  signified." 

"  That  accounts  for  the  peculiar  movements  I 
noticed  during  our  pursuit,"  remarked  the  Pro- 
fessor. 

"  Doubtless,"  replied  the  High  President.  "  Well, 
I  am  truly  thankful  they  kept  their  wits  and  acted 
as  they  did.  I  am  glad  they  did  not  allow  you  to 
escape  and  I  am  even  more  glad  they  did  not  resort 
to  the  other  course.  I  abhor  any  unnecessary  shed- 
ding of  blood  and  I  am  grateful  to  Providence  that 
our  operations  that  night  cost,  at  most,  only  one  life. 
I  may  say  to  you  that  the  life  of  the  King  has  been 
repeatedly  in  our  hands  during  our  various  visi- 
tations, but  not  one  hair  of  his  head  has  been  in- 
jured." 

"  What  was  the  object  of  these  visitations  ?  "  asked 
the  Professor  curiously. 

"  To  satisfy  fully  the  scruples  of  some  of  the  more 
conscientious  among  the  leaders,"  answered  the  High 
President.  "  The  present  King  had  shown  himself 
to  be  a  more  just  and  mild-mannered  ruler  than 
his  predecessor  and  they  thought  he  should  be  ac- 
corded the  saving  chances  of  reform  and  abdica- 
tion. I  was  opposed  to  the  plan  as  affording  little 
prospect  of  practical  results,  but  yielded  so  as  to 
satisfy  the  consciences  of  these  men  —  so  that  when 
the  time  came  to  strike  they  could  feel  that  we  had 
done  so  only  after  no  other  course  was  left." 

"  I  see  —  I  understand,"  said  the  Professor 
thoughtfully. 

"  And  now,"  said  the  High  President,  "  all  is  pre- 
pared. The  air-ships  are  ready  and  their  crews 
drilled  to  their  work.  We  have  in  addition  a  suffi- 
ciently large  number  of  men  trained  to  act  as  a» 


260        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

auxiliary  land  force  to  follow  up  at  the  right  mo- 
ment the  devastating  work  of  the  air-ships.  The  offi- 
cers pin  a  gold  star,  the  men  a  white  star  —  the  Star 
of  Hope  —  to  their  left  shoulders  and  in  an  instant 
you  have  a  force  sufficiently  recognizable  for  our 
purposes.  Should  any  body  of  men  be  compelled 
to  retreat,  they  scatter,  off  with  the  star  from  the 
shoulder,  and  in  an  instant  are  re-converted  into  or- 
dinary citizens.  Conceive  a  body  of  men  in  a  num- 
ber of  mobiles,  so  built  as  to  be  protected  from 
ordinary  rifle  fire,  and,  hovering  in  the  distance, 
awaiting  the  moment,  a  scattered  mass  of  men  on 
foot.  These  latter  carry  only  concealed  arms,  and 
are  apparently  noncombatants.  Imagine  the  men  in 
the  mobiles  opening  an  attack  upon  a  royal  regi- 
ment, or  other  hostile  body.  The  royal  troops  ad- 
vance to  the  attack  and  the  men  in  the  mobiles  begin 
to  retreat.  Then,  from  the  heavens  above,  the  air- 
ships, themselves  unassailable,  open  their  attack  and 
hurl  down  high  explosives  upon  the  advancing 
troops.  What  becomes  of  the  regiment  ?  In  a  few 
moments  it  is  decimated  —  annihilated!  All  that 
remains  is  for  the  men  in  the  motors  and  the  scat- 
tered footmen  in  the  distance  to  sweep  down  upon 
the  scene  and  take  charge  of  the  dead,  the  dying  and 
the  prisoners.  The  same  way  in  attacking  a  fort, 
or  royal  palace.  Our  air-ships  would  hover  high 
above  and,  themselves  beyond  the  reach  of  rifles,  or 
of  canon,  pursue  their  attack  until  the  work  of  de- 
molition was  complete.  As  a  military  man,  Cap- 
tain Mortimer,  I  ask  you  how  can  such  an  attack  be 
successfully  resisted  ? " 

"Are  your  air-ships  rifle  proof?"   asked  Morti- 
mer. 

"  Perfectly  so  from  all  sides,"  answered  the  High 


UNFOLDIXG  THE  PLAX  261 

President ;  "  but  even  if  they  Avere  not,  it  would  be 
an  easy  matter  for  them  to  keep  beyond  range." 

"  Quite  so ;  and  they  could,  of  course,  still  be  able 
to  direct  the  explosives  hurled  with  sufficient  ac- 
curacy ? " 

"  Absolutely,"  replied  the  High  President.  "  I 
ask  you  again  how  can  such  a  form  of  attack  be  re- 
sisted ? " 

Mortimer  hesitated  a  moment  before  replying. 

"  It  is  obvious,"  he  said  at  length,  "  that  if  one- 
thousand  riflemen  are  attacked  in  the  manner  you 
describe  by  one  hundred  of  an  enemy  whom  they 
cannot  by  any  possibility  reach  or  inflict  any  punish- 
ment whatsoever  upon,  the  one  thousand  men  must 
necessarily  succumb  to  the  one  hundred.  In  the  case 
of  artillery,  the  artillerymen  would  be  no  better  off, 
for  if  their  enemy  were  lodged  directly  above,  heavy 
guns  could  not  be  raised  to  a  sufficient  pitch  to  bring 
the  enemy  within  range.  These  propositions  are  so 
simple  that,  I  take  it,  there  is  no  disputing  them." 

"  And  as  to  a  fort  ?  "  asked  the  High  President. 

"  Substantially  the  same  principles  must  apply," 
answered  Mortimer. 

"  The  government's  warships,"  continued  the  High 
President,  "  are  scattered  over  the  various  seas.  But 
let  us  assume  that  a  number  of  them  were  concen- 
trated in  Atlantic  waters.  Could  a  ship  of  the  sea 
do  successful  battle  with  a  ship  of  the  air,  hovering 
directly  above  her  and  raining  death  and  destruction 
down  upon  her  decks  ?  I  ask  you,  what  chance  would 
a  ship  of  the  sea  have  ? " 

"  A  warship,"  answered  Mortimer  with  impa- 
tience, "  could,  of  course,  not  elevate  her  guns  so  as 
to  bring  within  range  anything  immediately  above 
her.". 

"  Then,"     exclaimed     the     High     President    tri- 


262        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

umphantly,  "  I  am  pleased  to  find  that  our  minds  are 
in  accord  on  at  least  some  important  points  and  we 
can  now,  perhaps,  come  to  an  understanding." 

"  I  don't  fully  catch  your  meaning,"  said  Morti- 
mer. 

'  You  don't  suppose,"  answered  the  High  Presi- 
dent, "  that  I  have  held  this  interview  with  you  and 
disclosed  our  position  so  thoroughly  simply  for  the 
purpose  of  discussing  political  economy,  or  questions 
of  military  tactics  ?  " 

"  Perhaps   not,"   said   Mortimer.     "  I   await    the 
explanation  of  your  purpose." 

"  It  is  this,"  replied  the  High  President.  "  I 
sought  first  to  show  you  the  merit  and  justice  of  our 
eause,  and  next,  our  certitude  of  success.  You,  Cap- 
tain Mortimer,  with  your  military  experience,  and 
you,  Professor  Dean,  with  your  scientific  attain- 
ments, would  he  valuable  additions  to  our  ranks  — 
not  so  much  for  the  first  attack,  for  all  the  details  of 
that  first  attack  are  already  mapped  out  and  settled; 
hut  for  the  subsequent  work  of  organization  and 
handling  great  masses  of  men  which  must  necessarily 
follow  our  preliminary  successes.  We  shall  first  at- 
tack the  palace  and  almost  simultaneously  the  city 
of  New  York.  We  shall  seize  upon  the  persons  of 
the  King  and  the  officers  of  the  Government.  This 
preliminary  success  and  demonstration  of  our  power 
will  he  accompanied  by  uprisings  all  over  the  East, 
followed  a  little  later  by  similar  movements  in  the 
West  and  the  South.  How  could  you  lend  your  aid 
to  a  nobler  work  than  the  uplifting  of  your  country- 
men in  particular  and  of  mankind  in  general  —  how 
engage  in  a  more  truly  patriotic  task !  I  invite  you 
—  I  beg  you  —  to  aid  in  this  cause  —  to  join  our 
ranks." 

The  High  President  paused,  with  eager  eyes  turned 


UNFOLDING  THE  PLAN  263 

upon  Lis  auditors.     For  some  moments  they  sat  in 
silence. 

"  I  await  your  answer,"  said  the  High  President, 
turning  his  gaze  directly  upon  Mortimer. 

For  yet  a  moment  Mortimer  sat  speechless.  At 
last  he  spoke. 

"  General  Mainwarren,"  he  said,  "  I  don't  doubt 
the  high  impulses  and  sentiments  which  direct  your 
action,  otherwise  your  words  would  convey  to  me  the 
.grossest  insult.  Understanding  these  impulses  and 
sentiments  as  I  do,  I  can  accept  your  words  in  the 
spirit  in  which  they  are  intended.  But,  sir,  remem- 
ber that  I  wear  the  uniform  of  an  American  army 
officer.  That  uniform,  so  far  as  is  known,  has  never 
.covered  hut  one  traitor  and  the  world-wide  obloquy 
and  contempt  which  in  his  own  period  and  through 
succeeding  generations  has  followed  the  name  of 
Benedict  Arnold,  should  be  a  sufficient  example  and 
lesson  for  prospective  traitors  in  all  generations  to 
vcome.  The  function  of  an  army  officer  is  not  to 
delve  in  social  economics,  or  meddle  with  political 
questions.  He  must  leave  these  matters  to  others. 
His  duty  is  to  uphold  the  government  of  the  coun- 
try and  to  forever  stand  ready  to  defend  and  die  for, 
if  needs  be,  the  interests  and  the  honor  of  his  country 
and  his  nag.  Such  are  the  views  I  hold,  General 
Mainwarren,  and  —  you  have  my  answer." 

The  High  President,  in  turn,  paused  before  mak- 
ing reply. 

"  I,  too,"  he  said  at  length,  "  understand  and  ap- 
preciate the  sentiments  which  dictate  your  answer. 
I  do  not  consider  that  these  sentiments  are  correct 
from  the  highest  and  broadest  standpoint  of  patriot- 
ism and  human  effort,  but  the  answer,  such  as  it  is,  I 
must  accept,  much  as  I  regret  it.     And  you,"  he 


264       THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

added,  turning  to  Professor  Dean ;  "  what  is  your 
decision  ?  " 

The  Professor  answered  without  a  moment's  hesi- 
tation. 

u  I  am,"  he  said,  "  more  in  touch  and  sympathy 
with  your  project  and  your  aims  than  Captain  Morti- 
mer is,  or  could  be  expected  to  be.  Had  you  de- 
picted to  me  those  projects  and  described  to  me  those 
aims  on  the  day  we  first  met,  my  answer  might  have 
been  different  from  that  which  it  now  must  be.  As 
it  is,  I  have  embarked  in  this  joint  enterprise  with 
my  friend,  Captain  Mortimer,  and  I  should  regard 
myself  as  playing  the  rule  of  traitor  which  he  so 
severely  contemns  were  I  now  to  fail  him.  I  shall 
stand  shoulder  to  shoulder  with  Captain  Mortimer 
in  this  enterprise,  at  least,  to  the  very  end." 

The  High  President  rose  and  extended  his  hand. 

"  Re-meeting !  "  he  exclaimed.  "  My  mission  here 
has  failed.     There  is  nothing  more  to  be  said." 

He  moved  toward  the  door.  Dean  called  after 
him. 

"  One  moment,"  he  cried ;  "  there  is  a  question  I 
would  ask.  You  spoke  just  now  of  blood  having 
been  spilled  the  night  of  the  chase.  What  did  you 
mean  ?  Was  there  some  mishap  which  happened  to 
those  we  were  pursuing?     I  saw  no  accident. 

"  ISTo,"  answered  the  High  President,  pausing, 
"  no  accident  occurred  to  any  of  those  you  were  fol- 
lowing.    It  was  at  the  palace." 

"  At  the  palace !     What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  According  to  the  report  made  me,"  continued  the 
High  President,  "  it  came  about  in  this  way.  Our 
men  in  the  air-ship  were  preparing  to  approach  the 
window  of  the  King's  chamber,  but  prior  to  doing 
so  were  scouting  around  the  immediate  neighborhood 
to  ascertain  if  the  coast  was  clear." 


UNFOLDING  THE  PLAN  265 

"  Yes,  yes,"  exclaimed  Dean,  "  we  noticed  that !  " 

"  Next  to  the  King's  chamber  was  a  room  with 
open  windows,"  went  on  the  High  President,  "  oc- 
cupied, as  they  knew,  by  an  officer  on  guard.  Either 
an  air  current  must  have  affected  the  air-ship  which 
was  at  the  moment  almost  motionless,  or  the  steers- 
man made  some  slight  miscalculation,  for  they  sud- 
denly drifted  in  too  close  to  the  room.  Our  men 
suddenly  saw  an  officer  in  full  uniform  spring  for- 
ward and  peer  out.  It  looked  as  if  he  had  caught 
sight  of  them  and  was  about  to  give  an  alarm.  In- 
stantly, one  of  our  men  fired.  The  officer  was  seen 
to  stagger  back  and,  without  groan  or  cry,  he  fell !  " 

With  a  cry  of  rage  and  pain,  as  of  some  wounded 
animal,  Mortimer  clenched  his  hands  and  began 
pacing  the  floor,  in  deep  agitation. 

"  But  how  can  this  be  !  "  exclaimed  Dean.  "  We 
were  close  at  hand  and  we  heard  no  sound  —  no 
shot !  " 

"  You  forget,"  replied  the  High  President  indul- 
gently, "  that  most  of  our  firearms  to-day  are  noise- 
less as  well  as  smokeless." 

"  My  God  —  my  God !  "  exclaimed  Mortimer,  still 
pacing  the  floor,  "  that  officer  was  Kalph  —  my  com- 
rade and  friend,  Captain  Swords.  Tell  me,  did  that 
shot  kill  ?  " 

"  That  is  not  known,"  replied  the  High  President. 
"  After  the  shot,  our  men  hovered  around,  peering 
into  the  lighted  room  and  prepared  to  flee  at  the 
slightest  sign  of  an  alarm.  But  no  sign  of  such  alarm 
appeared.  The  officer's  fall  upon  the  heavy  carpet 
appeared  to  have  been  unheard,  for  no  one  came  to 
the  room  and  he  lay  there  motionless.  Our  men  then 
passed  on  to  their  work  at  the  King's  window,  when 
you  appeared  a  moment  later  upon  the  scene.  You 
know  the  rest." 


266        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

"  To  think  that  he  is  lying  wounded,  perhaps  deadr 
and  I  here  —  a  prisoner !  "  muttered  Mortimer 
fiercely. 

"  The  fortunes  of  war,"  replied  the  High  Presi- 
dent coldly.  "  What  is  one  life  in  such  a  struggle  ? 
Alas !  think  of  the  many,  many  lives  which  must  be 
sacrificed  before  this  contest  closes.  As  to  your  im- 
prisonment, I  am  willing  to  give  you  the  freedom  of 
this  entire  valley  upon  your  parole  not  to  leave  it,  or 
to  attempt  any  communication  whatsoever  with  the 
outside." 

"  I  refuse  such  parole,"  answered  Mortimer  curtly. 

"  And  you,  Professor  Dean  ?  " 

"  I  follow  Captain   Mortimer's  lead  absolutely." 

"  Very  well,"  answered  the  High  President, 
"  prisoners  you  must  then  remain.  But  console 
yourselves  with  the  thought  that  it  will  not  be  for 
long.  Ten  days  from  to-day  the  signal  to  attack  will 
flash  forth  —  in  ten  days  from  to-day  the  new  era 
will  have  dawned  and  your  freedom  will  be  near  at 
hand.  Look  forward  to  your  liberation  —  as  tens 
upon  tens  of  millions  are  awaiting  their  liberation  — 
to  the  birth  of  the  Xew  Republic !  " 

He  sprang  up  the  steps  and  called  to  the  sentinel 
without.  The  door  was  hurriedly  thrown  open  and 
an  instant  later  he  was  gone. 


CHAPTER  V 

A    STRANGE    MESSAGE, 

The  days  passed.  Captain  Mortimer  sat  with 
bowed  head  and  heavy  brow,  resisting  Valerie's 
archest  smiles  and  brightest  sallies.  The  fine  ap- 
petite he  had  displayed  on  the  occasion  of  the  first 
breakfast  had  deserted  him  and  Valerie's  choicest 
dishes  went  back  practically  untouched.  Was  there 
anything  she  could  get  for  him?  'No;  nothing. 
Was  there  anything  special  he  would  like  prepared  ? 
No;  absolutely  nothing.  To  all  her  questions  only 
the  same  brief,  though  polite,  negatives.  Valerie 
was  in  despair. 

Alone  with  Dean,  the  one  topic  was  escape.  They 
had  again  carefully  examined  the  cabin.  There  were 
two  portholes  on  each  side  —  too  small  to  permit  of 
the  egress  of  even  a  boy's  body  —  and  the  floors, 
walls  and  ceilings  were  certainly  too  strongly  con- 
structed to  be  open  to  successful  attack  by  men  whose 
only  tools  were  two  pocket  knives  and  a  sword. 
Evidently  their  only  possible  chance  was  by  the  door. 

To  the  door,  then,  they  turned  their  attention.  It 
was  too  strong  to  give  way  to  any  sudden  onslaught 
and  any  extended  work  upon  it  would  certainly  be 
heard  by  the  sentinel  outside.  Besides,  the  Pro- 
fessor pointed  out,  even  if  they  did  succeed  in  break- 
ing through  and  getting  past  the  sentry,  they  would 
doubtless  be  quickly  surrounded  and  overpowered 
by  the  other  men  of  the  camp. 

"  It's  probably  true,"  Mortimer  replied.     "  But  I 
267 


l'GS        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

in  rend  to  make  an  attempt  at  all  hazards.  It's  bet- 
ter to  die  in  the  valley  outside,  after  a  good  hot  fight, 
than  to  perish  heart-broken,  cooped  up  here." 

Then  began  a  search  for  methods  by  which  they 
could  get  past  the  door  and  reach  the  sentinel  out- 
side. 

"  Why  not  lie  in  wait  at  the  door,"  suggested  the 
Professor,  "  and  when  the  food  is  brought  in  we  cau 
make  one  spirited  dash  %  " 

"  No,  that  won't  do,"  Mortimer  said.  "  It  is 
Valerie  who  brings  the  food ;  we  can't  treat  her  so." 

They  discussed  a  plan  whereby  one  of  them  was 
to  feign  illness  and  ask  for  a  doctor,  or  other  medical 
assistance ;  but  it  was  repugnant  to  them  both  to  seek 
advantage  in  any  form  over  one  who  came  on  an 
ostensible  errand  of  mercy. 

They  at  last  hit  upon  the  much  simpler  expedient 
of  sending  a  message  demanding  to  see  the  man  in 
command.  Henry,  with  his  brutal  directness,  would 
probably  jump  at  the  conclusion  that  they  sought 
some  concession,  or  had  some  terms  to  propose.  With 
him  they  would  have  no  scruples. 

Accordingly,  when  Valerie  brought  in  the  dinner 
on  the  fourth  day  following  the  visit  of  the  High 
President,  the  Professor  broached  the  subject. 

"  My  dear  Miss  Robert — "  he  began. 

"Call  me  Valerie.  Everybody  does  here.  It's 
so  much  simpler,"  said  the  girl,  as  she  busied  herself 
with  the  table. 

"  Ah,  yes ;  certainly.     My  dear  Miss  Valerie  — " 

"  Simply  Valerie ;  or  you  may  say  '  dear  Valerie,' 
if  you  like,"  replied  the  girl,  archly. 

"  Well  —  ah  —  Valerie,  then  !  "  stammered  the 
Professor,  "  would  you  mind  conveying  a  message 
for  us,  or,  to  speak  more  accurately,  I  should  say  caus- 
ing a  message  to  be  conveyed  for  us,  since  we  would 


A  STRANGE  MESSAGE  269 

prefer  —  and  you  will  no  doubt  know  how  to  manage 
this  —  that  such  message  should  not  come  from  either 
yourself  or  your  father.  Perhaps,  I  might  suggest, 
you  could  so  contrive  as  to  enable  us  to  send  it  by 
one  of  the  sentinels  outside  this  door  ?  " 

The  girl  glanced  at  the  Professor  curiously. 

"  What  is  the  message  %  "  she  asked. 

"  That  we  demand  to  see  the  person  in  command 
here  —  Colonel  Henry,  I  believe." 

"  Oh !  won't  father  do  %  " 

"  No,  no ;  not  at  all !  We  want  to  see  the  one  in 
chief  command." 

"  Any  complaint  as  to  the  cooking  or  the  service  ?  " 
asked  the  girl  pertly. 

"  Really,  Miss " 

"Valerie!" 

"You  embarrass  me." 

"  I  love  to  do  that !  " 

"  But  you  will  grant  what  we  ask  ?  " 

"  I'll  see  about  it  and  let  you  know  to-morrow," 
she  replied,  as  she  started  for  the  door. 

The  following  morning  at  breakfast  they  again 
questioned  her.  She  had  not  yet  had  an  opportunity 
to  attend  to  the  matter.  At  mid-day  the  same  an- 
swer, but  a  promise  that  they  should  have  word  at 
the  next  meal. 

The  next  meal  came  and  with  it  Valerie.  The  cap- 
tives felt  their  hearts  sink  at  her  first  words.  Col- 
onel Henry  would  not  see  them. 

"  What  was  it  he  said  when  our  message  was  given 
him  ? "  asked  Mortimer,  "  and  by  whom  was  it 
given  ? " 

Valerie  hesitated  in  a  manner  very  unusual  to  her 
before  replying.     Then  she  broke  out  impetuously: 

"  He  did  not  say  anything,  because  the  message 
wasn't  carried.     It  would  have  been  useless.     Papa 


270       THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

tells  me  that  the  High  President  gave  imperative 
orders  that  Colonel  Henry  was  not  to  deal  in  any 
way  with  you.  You  are  held  subject  to  the  orders 
of  the  High  President  himself." 

"  Why  didn't  you  send  the  message  anyhow  ? " 
demanded  Mortimer,  a  bit  impatiently.  "  Colonel 
Henry  might  decide  to  see  us  —  you  can't  tell.  You 
don't  realize  how  important  it  is  that  we  see  him." 

She  did  not  answer  these  reproaches  for  some  mo- 
ments.    Then  suddenly  she  turned  upon  Mortimer. 

"  Even  if  the  High  President  hadn't  given  such 
orders,  do  you  think  I  would  bring  you  and  '  Black 
Hawk '  Henry  face  to  face  after  what  has  hap- 
pened ?  Colonel  Henry  is  furious.  You  throttled 
him  before  his  men  and  on  top  of  that  he  was  severely 
reprimanded  by  the  High  President  for  his  treatment 
of  prisoners." 

"  How  about  the  insult  to  me  —  the  cause  of  it 
all  ?  "  Mortimer  asked. 

"  I  don't  know  anything  about  that,"  she  answered, 
"  but  I'm  not  so  foolish  as  to  bring  burning  oil  and 
gunpowder  together !  Won't  father  do  as  well  ?  " 
she  asked  in  conclusion. 

"  No !  "  Mortimer  hastened  to  answer. 

"  Will  anybody  else  ?  " 

"  Oh,  yes ;  anybody  else  will  do,  if  he  doesn't  come 
direct  from  Captain  Robert,"  Mortimer  assured  her. 

"  I  don't  see  how  it  can  be  managed,"  she  said. 

For  a  moment  they  were  both  in  despair.  Then 
Mortimer  spoke  up. 

"  You've  been  very  kind  to  us,"  he  began,  "  and 
we're  indebted  to  you  for  many  favors.  Believe  me, 
we  both  of  us  appreciate  and  are  grateful  to  you  from 
the  bottom  of  our  hearts." 

A  deepening  tinge  of  color  crept  into  the  girl's 


A  STKANGE  MESSAGE  271 

face,  as  she  looked  up  at  him  with  smiling  eyes,  her 
white  teeth  showing  between  her  full,  red  lips. 

"  We  have  one  more  favor  to  ask  of  you,"  he  con- 
tinued, "  a  rather  peculiar  favor  and  one  which,  I 
trust,  you  won't  misunderstand.  Should  you  decide 
to  grant  it,  you  must  do  so  blindly,  without  asking  a 
single  question  as  to  the  why  or  wherefore." 

"  What  is  it  ?  "  asked  the  girl  eagerly. 

"  Just  this :  that  to-morrow  one  of  our  meals  shall 
not  be  brought  by  you  and  that  you  will  let  us  know 
in  advance  which  of  those  meals  it  is  to  be." 

The  girl's  head  dropped  and  the  color  paled  from 
her  face.  For  a  moment  she  said  nothing.  Then 
she  looked  up. 

"  The  dinner  is  ready,"  she  said.  "  Why  don't 
you  eat  ?  " 

"  I  can't  eat  to-night,"  answered  Mortimer  im- 
patiently. 

"  It's  horrible  to  see  you  pining  away  in  this 
fashion,"  said  the  girl.  "  You'll  die  if  this  keeps 
up." 

"  Men  don't  die  so  easily,"  replied  Mortimer,  with 
a  short  laugh.  "  But  you  haven't  answered  what  I 
asked  you." 

She  hesitated  for  a  moment. 

"  Do  nothing  —  make  no  attempt  of  any  kind  to- 
day," she  cried  with  sudden  vehemence.  "  Wait  un- 
til to-morrow !  To-morrow  I'll  bring  you  good 
news !  " 

And  with  these  words  she  turned  quickly  and  fled 
up  the  steps. 

At  breakfast  time  next  morning  she  lingered  in 
the  cabin  longer  than  usual.  To  Mortimer's  ques- 
tioning glance,  she  returned  for  answer  the  single 
word :     "  Wait !  " 

At  mid-day  she  appeared,  bearing  her  tray  as  usual, 


272        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

but  when  she  began  to  unload  it  they  noticed  skil- 
fully concealed  among  the  dishes,  two  small  coils  of 
rope.  Her  cheeks  were  flushed  and  here  was  an 
unwonted  agitation  in  her  manner. 

"You  wouldn't  eat  my  food,"  she  said,  "  so  I've 
brought  you  something  which  will  be  more  welcome." 
And  she  touched  one  of  the  coils  of  rope  lightly  with 
her  finger. 

"Won't  you  speak  more  plainly?"  exclaimed  the 
Professor,  with  evident  excitement. 

"  My  meaning !  "  retorted  the  girl,  with  impa- 
tience. "  What  do  you  suppose  I  mean  except  —  your 
escape.  Do  you  think  I  am  both  blind  and  stupid ! 
Do  you  think  I  haven't  seen  how  you,"  and  she 
glanced  toward  Mortimer,  "  have  been  eating  your 
hearts  out  here  ?  Do  you  imagine  I  didn't  guess 
youp  meaning  when  you  wanted  the  '  Black  Hawk  ' 
to  oome  to  you,  or  when  you  wanted  me  to  keep 
away  ?  Valerie  was  bright  enough  to  understand  the 
meaning  of  that !  " 

"  We  certainly  didn't  mean  to  reflect  upon  your 
intelligence,"  replied  the  Professor.  "We  only 
hoped  you  would  close  your  eyes  sufficiently  to  aid  us 
in  our  plans." 

"  There's  a  big  move  of  some  kind  about  to  take 
place  here,"  said  Valerie,  "  and  it  wouldn't  astonish 
me  if  father  were  ordered  away  at  any  moment. 
Now,  I'm  not  going  to  take  any  chance  of  leaving 
you  here  at  the  mercy  of  the  '  Black  Hawk.'  He'd 
kill  you  at  the  first  chance  —  he's  quite  capable  of  it. 
So  I'll  help  you  in  any  way  to  get  off." 

"  We  thank  you  heartily,"  answered  the  Profes- 
sor.    "  But   what's  your  plan  ?  " 

"  Listen !  "  said  Valerie.  "  All  the  men  in  camp 
here  have  gone  off  to  Minden  Plains,  which  are  back 
of  Pedisgill  Hill,  to  practise  some  special  manceuver 


A  STRANGE  MESSAGE  273 

■ —  all  except  the  man  at  the  door  here,  and  five  men 
who  are  at  work  in  Big  Bear  Gap,  which  is  almost  at 
the  other  end  of  the  valley.  They  are  at  work  on 
some  air-ships  there  and  the  '  Black  Hawk  '  is  keep- 
ing an  eye  over  them." 

"  Yes,  yes,"  assented  the  Professor,  "  hut  how 
are  we  going  to  get  out  of  here  ?  " 

"  When  I  next  return,"  said  Valerie,  "  you  will 
seize  and  bind  me  securely  with  one  of  these  cords, 
which  for  all  anybody  will  know  you  found  by  ran- 
sacking the  cabin." 

"  But  how  shall  we  deal  with  the  sentry  outside  ?  " 
questioned  the  Professor. 

"  Oh,  that  will  be  simple  enough,"  replied  Valerie. 
"  Jack  is  on  guard  and  Jack  will  do  anything  I  say, 
even  though  it  were  to  send  a  bullet  through  the 
'  Black  Hawk '  himself.  After  you  have  secured 
me,  you  will  give  three  light  taps  upon  the  door. 
Jack  won't  be  very  much  surprised  when  he  opens  the 
door  if  you  suddenly  pounce  upon  him  and  secure 
him  in  the  same  way  that  you  do  me.  You  are  two  to 
one  and  his  capture  need  not  create  suspicion.  He 
will  struggle,  of  course,  just  to  keep  up  appearances, 
but  don't  hurt  the  poor  boy,  since  he  is  really  our 
friend." 

"  I  don't  like  the  plan,"  broke  in  Mortimer,  speak- 
ing for  the  first  time,  "  since  it  involves  violence  — 
or  rather  the  appearance  of  violence  —  to  you.  I 
would  much  rather  you  were  not  mixed  up  in  this  — 
much  rather  that  it  were  managed  by  that  fellow 
Henry  coming  here,  or  someone  else." 

"  Don't  be  silly !  "  exclaimed  Valerie.  "  It's  the 
kindest  thing  you  can  do  for  me,  since  it  will  serve 
to  divert  suspicion  far  more  than  any  other  plan." 

"  Still,  I  don't  like  it,"  retorted  Mortimer  ob- 
stinately.    "  I  would  give  almost  anything  I  possess 


JT4       THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

to  escape  from  here,  but  I  don't  like  your  being  in- 
volved." 

"  I'm  bound,"  said  Valerie,  determinedly,  "  that 
jou  shall  not  remain  behind  at  the  mercy  of  the 
'  Black  Hawk.'  You've  got  to  escape.  But,"  she 
added,  her  manner  softening,  "  you'll  promise  me 
that  after  you  are  safely  away,  you  will  never  bring 
anything  here  that  will  do  injury  to  me  or  mine  — 
to  the  men  of  this  camp  ?  " 

"  Should  I  ever  succeed  in  escaping,"  answered 
Mortimer  solemnly,  "  I'll  promise  never  to  disclose 
the  situation  of  this  valley,  or  to  lead,  or  direct,  any 
attacking  force  here.  More  than  this  I  can't  prom- 
ise." 

"  It  is  enough,"  said  Valerie.  "And  you  ?  "  she 
asked,  turning  to  Dean. 

"  I  hold  myself  bound  by  the  same  promise  as  that 
given  by  Captain  Mortimer,"  he  replied. 

"  Very  well.  Xow  listen  carefully,"  she  con- 
tinued. "  Your  air-ship  has  been  moved  from  where 
you  last  saw  it.  It's  no  longer  in  this  inlet.  When 
you  pass  the  door,  keep  straight  out  into  the  main 
valley.  The  moment  you  reach  the  valley  you  will 
notice,  a  short  distance  away,  two  inlets  to  the  right. 
Keep  on  to  the  second  inlet  and  there,  among  several 
others,  you  will  find  your  air-ship.  If  you  are  seen 
at  all,  it  won't  be  until  after  you  have  risen  well 
over  the  mountain  tops,  and  long  before  any  of  the 
men  can  get  back  to  the  air-ships,  you  will  be  well 
out  of  sight  and  beyond  any  chance  of  pursuit.  Be- 
sides, I  don't  believe  they  will  attempt  any  chase  as 
they  have  never  taken  any  chance  of  the  air-ships 
being  seen  by  going  above  the  mountain  tops  in  day- 
light. How  the  '  Black  Hawk '  will  carry  on  when 
he  finds  you  have  got  away!  I  owe  him  a  grudge 
or  two  and  it  will  be  great  fun  to  see  him  storm 


A  STRANGE  MESSAGE  275 

and  rage.  You  have  now  the  whole  plan.  Are  you 
sure  you  understand  it  ?  " 

"  Quite !  "  replied  the  Professor. 

"  Keep  it  well  in  mind,  then,"  said  Valerie.  "  In 
half  an  hour  I  shall  be  back  and  the  time  for  you  will 
have  come." 

She  ran  up  the  steps  and  tapped  three  times  light- 
ly on  the  door.  As  it  opened  they  caught  a  glimpse 
of  the  big,  good-natured  face  of  the  sentry,  as  he 
beamed  joyously  upon  the  departing  Valerie. 

When  the  door  closed  after  her,  Mortimer  began 
striding  up  and  down  the  cabin,  strongly  agitated  by 
conflicting  emotions.  On  the  one  hand  was  his  strong 
desire  to  escape  from  confinement,  so  maddening  un- 
der existing  circumstances;  on  the  other  hand  was 
his  dislike  for  the  means  to  be  adopted. 

"  Is  it  right  ?  "  he  asked  the  Professor,  "  to  let 
this  girl  mix  herself  up  in  this  ?  We  ought  not  to  let 
her  run  risks  in  our  behalf.  How  do  we  know  what 
may  be  the  consequences  to  her  ?  If  she's  suspected, 
this  devil,  Henry,  would  stop  at  nothing." 

"  Oh !  you're  hypersensitive,"  responded  the  Pro- 
fessor. "  Valerie  can  be  trusted  to  find  her  way 
out  of  any  entanglement.  The  best  thing  for  us  is 
to  accept  the  chance  she  offers  and  get  away." 

Mortimer  listened,  but  shook  his  head  moodily  and 
seemed  by  no  means  satisfied. 

Thus  the  half -hour  quickly  sped  by  and,  punctually 
at  its  expiration,  the  door  opened  and  Valerie  re- 
appeared. 

"  All  ready  ?  "  she  exclaimed,  in  rapid  tones. 

Mortimer  raised  his  head  slowly. 

"  I  shall  not  go,"  he  said. 

"  Not  go  !  and  why  ?  " 

"  For  the  reasons  I've  explained.     Don't  think, 


276        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

though,  that  I  am  insensible  to  your  great  kindness 
—  that  I  thank  you  the  less." 

"  Keep  your  thanks  till  some  other  time,"  ex- 
claimed Valerie,  with  flushed  cheeks ;  "  now  is  the 
time  to  act.  You  won't  go,  eh  ?  We'll  see  about 
that.  When  I  make  up  my  mind  to  something,  that 
something  generally  comes  off,  as  you  shall  see !  " 

With  these  words  she  sprang  up  the  steps  and  tap- 
ped on  the  door.     It  was  immediately  opened. 

"  Jack,  come  here !  " 

Jack,  grinning  broadly,  promptly  descended  into 
the  cabin.  Valerie  dropped  into  a  seat  and  pointed 
to  one  of  the  little  coils  of  rope. 

"  Tie  me,  Jack." 

Jack's  eyes  opened  wide  in  astonishment  and  he 
hesitated. 

"  Tie  me,  Jack.  Since  when  did  you  begin  to  dis- 
obey my  orders  ?     Hurry,  I  say." 

Thus  admonished,  Jack  seized  the  rope  and,  with 
a  few  skilful  turns,  bound  her  fast. 

"  Now,"  she  cried  triumphantly,  turning  her  head 
toward  Mortimer,  "  now  will  you  go,  or  will  you  re- 
main here  until  someone  comes  and  finds  us  and  we 
all  get  into  trouble  for  nothing  ?  " 

"  Yes ;  hurry  up  and  do  something,"  cried  Jack 
impatiently.  "  Either  I  must  be  choked  dumb  and 
tied  up,  or  I  must  get  back  to  my  post.  What  are 
you  making  so  much  fuss  about  anyway?  Don't 
you  want  to  go  back  home  to  fight  ?  You  look  like  a 
pretty  niftily  set  up  sort  of  a  man,"  he  continued, 
addressing  Mortimer,  "  but  the  other  doesn't  look  as 
if  he  would  count  for  much.  Come,  hurry  up ! 
You've  wasted  too  much  time  already !  " 

"  You're  right !  "  exclaimed  the  Professor,  and, 
rope  in  hand,  he  fell  upon  Jack  and  quickly  secured 
him. 


A  STRANGE  MESSAGE  277 

As  for  Mortimer,  Jack's  reference  to  going  home  to 
fight  aroused  him.  Rapidly  there  flashed  through 
his  mind  the  vision  of  a  strangely-fought  and  bloody 
struggle  in  progress,  his  regiment  attacked  and  he 
absent  from  his  men  and  from  his  duty. 

He  glanced  at  the  Professor  now  rapidly  complet- 
ing the  work  of  securing  Jack.  Then  he  crossed  to 
where  Valerie  sat. 

"  You  win,"  he  said  with  emotion ;  "  I  accept  your 
sacrifice  and  will  go.  But  remember,  should  you 
find  yourself  in  peril  as  the  result  of  this,  one  word 
sent  to  me  at  the  palace  and  I'm  at  all  times  ready 
to  return  and  surrender  myself." 

"  Include  me  in  that  proposition,"  interjected 
Dean. 

"  Pull  tighter  round  the  ankles !  "  called  out  Jack, 
and  the  Professor  again  bent  to  his  task.  A  couple 
more  turns  of  the  rope,  a  few  sharp  tugs  and  he  stood 
up,  his  work  completed. 

"  Go !  "  whispered  Valerie,  with  pleading  lips  and 
eyes  upturned  to  Mortimer.  "  Go,  before  it  is  too 
late." 

He  lingered  yet  a  moment. 

"  Don't  forget  my  offer,"  he  said,  "  should  you 
find  yourself  in  peril.  I  hold  myself  your  debtor  for 
life.     You  will  remember  ?  " 

"  Ah !  But  will  you  remember  something  ?  "  re- 
turned Valerie  hastily.  "  You  are  going  into  a 
greater  danger  than  will  surround  me.  In  these 
awful  days  that  are  to  come  it  is  you  that  most  likely 
will  need  help.  Will  you  remember  you  have  a 
friend  among  your  —  enemies  ?  If  I  can  help  you, 
remember  I —  I  —     Oh  !     Go,  go  quickly !  " 

"  Come,  it's  time  we  were  off,"  exclaimed  the  Pro- 
fessor, touching  Mortimer  lightly  upon  the  arm. 
The  Captain  started.     Stooping,  he  kissed  Valerie's 


278       THE  FIRST  AMERICAN"  KING 

hand  and  tried  to  murmur  his  gratitude  to  the  girl, 
before  he  turned  to  follow  the  Professor.  Tears 
were  in  her  eyes ;  her  lips  trembled  slightly. 

They  reached  the  head  of  the  steps  and  were  out- 
side the  door.  Mortimer  turned  and  waved  a  fare- 
well. Then  Dean  banged  to  the  door  and  shot  the 
bolts. 

Rapidly  they  traversed  the  gully,  reached  the  main 
valley  and  peered  out.  No  one  was  in  sight.  To  the 
right  were  the  two  gullies,  just  as  Valerie  had  de- 
scribed. Skirting  closely  the  base  of  the  mountain 
to  keep  as  much  as  possible  out  of  sight,  they  reached 
the  entrance  to  the  first  gully  and  peered  in. 

The  saw  several  air-ships,  but  nothing  else.  On 
they  kept  and,  a  few  moments  later,  had  reached  the 
second  gully.  Air-ships  here,  too,  and,  joyful  sight, 
their  own  air-ship  away  back  at  the  end  there.  The 
coast  was  evidently  clear  and  they  would  reach  it  in 
a  few  minutes  and  be  on  board.  How  fresh  and 
sweet  the  air  smelled !     How  good  it  was  to  be  free ! 

They  pushed  on  over  the  intervening  space  and 
had  proceeded  some  fifty  yards  when  around  the 
stern  of  one  of  the  air-ships  before  them  a  man  came 
into  sight.  One  glance  at  the  burly  figure  and  black 
beard  was  sufficient.     It  was  the  "  Black  Hawk." 

They  recognized  him  and,  with  an  astonished 
shout,  he  as  quickly  recognized  them. 

Instantly  he  advanced  toward  them. 

They  were  in  a  species  of  small  clearing,  with  air- 
ships on  all  four  sides.  Mortimer  halted.  All  his 
moodiness  had  disappeared.  There  was  a  strange 
light  in  his  eyes  and  a  smile  upon  his  lips.  He  cast 
a  rapid  glance  around  him.  There  were  no  others 
in  sight.  Ah,  God  was  good!  There  was  the  blue 
sky  above  their  heads  and  the  green  grass  beneath 


A  STRANGE  MESSAGE  279 

their  feet  and  he  and  the  "  Black  Hawk  "  were  face 
to  face. 

An  instant  more  and  he  confronted  them.  A 
sword  hung  at  his  side  and  upon  his  left  shoulder 
there  glittered  the  gold  star  of  an  officer  of  the  Army 
of  the  New  Republic. 

"So,"  he  said,  his  black  beard  bristling,  his  eyes 
snapping  with  hatred,  "  so  you  dogs  have  escaped 
from  your  kennel,  eh  ?  " 

From  Mortimer  there  came  no  reply.  He  stood 
gazing  upon  his  enemy,  the  same  peculiar  light  in  his 
eyes  and  smile  upon  his  lips. 

"  But  you'll  quickly  march  back  again,"  he  con- 
tinued, with  a  malignant  snarl.  "  At  least  one  of 
you.  As  for  you,  Mr.  Fine  Feathers,  I  am  glad  to 
see  you  are  armed,  for  no  blame  can  then  be  put  upon 
me.  Later,  too,  I'll  find  out  how  all  this  happened. 
I  suspect  that  heifer,  Valerie,  had  a  hand  in  this !  " 

The  words  sealed  his  fate.  For  Valerie's  sake, 
the  thought  flashed  through  Mortimer's  mind,  this 
man  must  not  escape  him. 

"  Let  me  first  pay  my  debt !  "  he  exclaimed,  and 
his  long,  sinuous  arm  shot  out  and  struck  Henry, 
with  open  palm,  full  in  the  face. 

The  blow  was  so  sharp  and  so  sudden  that  Henry 
reeled.  In  an  instant,  however,  he  had  recovered 
himself  and  his  hand  flew  to  his  sword.  Mortimer 
drew  with  equal  celerity. 

They  sprang  together  and  their  swords  crossed. 

Henry  was  an  expert  swordsman  and  was  regarded 
among  the  men  of  ihe  camp  as  an  invincible  champion 
with  this  weapon.  He  attacked  with  all  the  confi- 
dence of  one  who  holds  victory  certain.  He  little 
dreamed,  however,  of  the  skill  against  which  he  was 
now  matched  —  a  skill  which  in  bygone  days  had 
held  wild  Kurd  horsemen  and  fiery  Cossacks  alike 


280        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

successfully  at  bay  and  had  given  its  owner  the  repu- 
tation of  the  crack  swordsman  of  the  American  ranks. 
Mortimer  fenced  smartly,  as  one  on  parade,  and  the 
smile  still  hovered  about  his  lips  as  he  parried  his 
opponent's  fierce  attacks. 

It  was  soon  over.  There  was  a  quick  parry,  a 
sharp  feint  and  Mortimer's  arm  shot  out  in  a  light- 
ning-like lunge.  Back  reeled  Henry  and  dropped 
heavily  to  earth.  Mortimer's  sword  had  passed  be- 
neath his  opponent's  black  beard  and  had  penetrated 
deep  into  the  throat.  He  lay  gasping  —  dying; 
choked  with  the  blood  which,  ebbed  from  the  great 
wound  and  gushed  in  a  gory  tide  over  his  neck  and 
breast. 

Mortimer  shook  the  blood  from  his  sword. 

"  That's  what  the  swordsmen  of  the  French  school 
call  '  le  coup  de  cochon/  "  he  said.  "  It's  a  very 
neat  stroke  —  when  properly  delivered."  And  he 
turned  coolly  toward  Dean. 

But  the  latter  stood  leaning  for  support  against  the 
side  of  ©ne  of  the  air-ships,  looking  with  strained 
eyes  and  blanched  face  at  the  form  upon  the  ground. 

"  Ah,  I  forgot,"  exclaimed  Mortimer,  "  you're  not 
accustomed  to  scenes  of  this  kind.  It's  astonishing, 
though,  how  soon  one  does  get  used  to  them  in  war." 

"  Can  we  lend  him  no  aid,"  asked  Dean  and,  over- 
coming his  feelings,  he  advanced  and  knelt  beside  the 
wounded  man. 

"  He's  beyond  human  assistance,  I  assure  you," 
said  Mortimer.  "  I  have  never  known  a  recovery 
from  that  stroke." 

And  he  was  right,  for  as  Dean  bent  down  he  saw  a 
great  shiver  pass  over  the  frame  of  the  prostrate  man 
and  a  moment  later  all  was  over ;  the  "  Black  Hawk  " 
lay  dead. 

"  Come ;   there   is   no   time   to   lose !  "    exclaimed 


A  STRANGE  MESSAGE  281 

Mortimer,  and  seizing  Dean  under  the  arm  he  half 
led,  half  carried  him  to  where  their  air-ship  lay.  A 
hasty  scramble  on  board ;  an  equally  hasty  inspection 
of  the  apparatus  to  ascertain  that  all  was  in  order ;  a 
quick  working  of  the  levers  by  the  Professor  and 
they  were  away. 

Steadily  and  gracefully  they  rose  until  they  were 
above  the  mountain  tops  and  the  country  lay  well 
beneath  them.  Away  in  the  distance  they  perceived 
a  number  of  men,  apparently  engaged  in  the  execution 
of  certain  manoeuvers.  These  were  evidently  the 
men  referred  to  by  Valerie  as  drilling  on  Minden 
Plain.  From  a  sudden  commotion  among  the  men  it 
was  evident  the  air-ship  had  been  seen. 

"  We  seem  to  be  creating  some  excitement !  "  ex- 
claimed Mortimer,  referring  to  this  circumstance. 
"  I  wonder  if  they  will  attempt  a  pursuit." 

"  It  will  be  a  very  useless  effort  if  they  do,"  replied 
Dean. 

"  Well,"  remarked  Mortimer,  "  you  know  their 
craft  is  a  good  deal  faster  than  ours." 

"  Yes,  I  know,"  answered  Dean,  "  but  long  before 
they  can  even  reach  their  ships,  we  will  have  disap- 
peared from  view.  We  are  at  least  fast  enough  for 
that  and  don't  forget  that  we  leave  no  trail  behind 
us." 

Up  and  up  they  rose  until  they  were  invisible  to 
anything  upon  the  surface  of  the  earth.  Onward 
they  sped,  and  no  pursuing  form  appearing  behind 
them,  they  realized  that  they  had  indeed  escaped. 
For  an  hour  or  more  they  held  on  thus  and  at  last 
Dean  spoke. 

"  I  have  been  keeping  entirely  away  from  our 
proper  course,"  he  said,  "  as  in  that  manner  I  thought 
we  should  be  less  likely  to  be  in  the  line  of  pursuit, 
if  indeed  a  pursuit  be  attempted  at  all.     I  feel  that 


282        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

we  are  quite  safe  from  that  now  and  I  had  best  lay 
the  course  for  the  palace,  I  suppose  %  " 

"  I  should  think  that  would  be  the  right  thing  to 
do,"  assented  Mortimer. 

"  But  first,"  said  Dean,  "  in  case  of  any  possible 
further  mishap,  I  think  it  would  be  well  for  us  to 
open  up  communication  with  Kearns  and  send  him  a 
message.  Don't  you  think  it  is  time  that  he  had 
one  ?  " 

"  Decidedly,"  answered  Mortimer.  "  An  excel- 
lent idea.  But  can  you  do  it  ?  Remember  the  in- 
strument is  in  his  room  in  the  Chancellerie  and  the 
windows  of  that  room  face  South,  while  we  are  now 
due  North." 

"  Quite  so,"  answered  Dean,  "  but  the  instrument 
in  that  room  is  connected  with  one  on  the  roof  of  the 
Palace,  so  that  at  this  altitude  I  can  operate  from  all 
four  points  of  the  compass.' 

Dean  brought  the  air-ship  to  a  standstill  and  al- 
lowed it  to  drift  in  the  air  currents.  Then  he  ap- 
plied himself  to  the  aerestograph. 

Silently  Mortimer  sat  awaiting  results.  Present- 
ly Dean  laid  aside  the  instrument  and  turned  to 
Mortimer. 

"  He  does  not  make  any  response,"  he  said.  "  He 
is  probably  away  from  the  instrument.  We  must  try 
again  later." 

Dean  again  started  the  air-ship  and  for  half  an 
hour  they  kept  on  their  course.  Then  Dean  again 
stopped  and  gave  the  aerestograph  a  further  trial. 

"  Ah !  "  he  exclaimed  immediately,  a  pleased  ex- 
pression coming  into  his  face;  "  now  we  have  him  !  " 

Dean  operated  the  instrument  for  a  minute  or  more 
and  then  was  occupied  for  quite  some  time  in  the  re- 
ception of  the  reply.  Kearns,  thought  Mortimer, 
was  evidently  either  not  a  very  rapid  or  very  accurate 


A  STRANGE  MESSAGE  283 

operator,  or  else  the  reply  must  be  of  some  length. 
At  last  it  was  over  and  Dean  sent  hack  a  brief 
answer. 

"  Very  curious !  "  he  muttered,  laying  aside  the 
instrument. 

"  What  is  very  curious  ?  "  questioned  Mortimer. 

"  The  reply  to  our  message." 

"  What  was  it  ?  " 

"  First  let  me  give  you  what  I  sent,"  said  Dean. 
"  It  was  this :  '  We  have  been  prisoners,  but  have 
escaped.  We  are  returning  with  big  news  and  fullest 
information.  '  " 

"  Yes,  yes,"  replied  Mortimer ;  "  that  would  seem 
to  cover  the  ground  very  nicely.     And  the  answer  ?  " 

"  This,"  replied  the  Professor,  "  is  the  somewhat 
curious  answer  I've  received :  *  Strange  happenings 
since  you  left.  Do  not  return  direct  to  j>alace,  but 
time  arrival  until  after  dark  and  manage  unseen  des- 
cent at  some  quiet  spot.  Will  meet  you  in  park  at 
northern  end  Queen's  Walk  at  midnight.  ' 

"  That's  certainly  a  rather  strange  message,"  said 
Mortimer. 

"  I  should  call  it  very  strange !  "  replied  Dean 
thoughtfully.  And,  with  his  hand  upon  the  lever, 
he  again  started  on  through  space. 


CHAPTER  VI 

THE    NEW    CHANCELLOR, 

These  were  days  of  great  news  happenings  at  the 
palace.  An  officer  of  the  Guard,  Captain  Stanley 
Mortimer,  had  strangely  disappeared  and  another 
officer  of  the  Guard,  Captain  Ralph  Swords,  had  been 
discovered,  in  the  anteroom  of  the  King's  chamber, 
senseless  and  bleeding  from  a  mysterious  bullet 
wound  in  the  head,  inflicted  upon  him  while  on 
guard  duty.  Fortunately  the  bullet  had  struck  at 
a  sharp  angle  and  had  glanced  from  the  parietal  bone, 
inflicting  a  severe  but  not  necessarily  fatal  wound. 
It  had  been  a  narrow  escape  for  Captain  Swords,  who 
would  be  laid  up  for  some  time  under  the  palace 
physician's  care. 

There  were  various  vague  rumors  afloat  concerning 
these  events ;  rumors  that  hinted  at  an  attempt  upon 
the  life  of  the  King.  Still,  nothing  definite  was 
ascertainable. 

Even  more  talked  of  was  the  death  of  Duke  Mar- 
quanna,  the  great  Lord  Chancellor  of  the  realm,  the 
famous  Warwick  of  the  American  monarchy.  He 
had  been  found  dead  in  his  bed  on  the  morning  fol- 
lowing the  last  Court  ball,  having  passed  away  peace- 
fully during  the  night. 

The  air  was  full  of  gossip  about  the  late  Duke  and 
particularly  as  to  his  probable  successor.  It  was 
well  known  that  it  had  been  the  ambition  of  the  late 
Duke  that  his  son  should  succeed  him.  But  the 
Marquis  Marquanna,  while  shining  as  a  social  leader, 

285 


286       THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

a  sportsman  and  a  setter  of  the  fashions,  seemed  to 
have  either  little  ambition,  or  little  inclination,  for 
the  more  weighty  and  burdensome  affairs  of  State. 
It  was  true  he  had  given  a  name  to  a  new  cocktail,  or 
rather,  an  old  cocktail  somewhat  altered  as  to  its 
component  parts  had  been  named  after  him,  as  also  a 
new  style  of  cravat  and  a  new  brand  of  cigars,  and  the 
Marquis  seemed  to  think  that  with  this  he  had  accom- 
plished all  that  ought  reasonably  to  be  expected  of 
him  in  this  life. 

It  thus  created  no  very  general  astonishment  when 
the  King  named  as  his  Chancellor,  to  succeed  the  late 
Duke,  Lord  Cyril  Ashley,  whose  fulfillment  of  the 
duties  of  Vice-Chancellor  had  familiarized  him  with 
the  work  in  hand.  Lord  Ashley  had  in  consequence 
of  this  appointment  severed  his  connection  with  the 
Army  and  had  at  once  assumed  the  office  of  Chancel- 
lor. 

Almost  his  first  move  as  Chancellor  caused  irrita- 
tion to  those  forming  part  of  the  Royal  Household. 
Owing  to  Lord  Ashley's  own  resignation  from  the 
Guards  and  to  the  absence  of  Captain  Stanley  Morti- 
mer and  the  present  disability  of  Captain  Ralph 
Swords,  there  existed  one  permanent  and  two  tem- 
porary vacancies  in  the  Guards  corps. 

The  ordinary  staff  appointment  lay  usually  with 
the  War  Office,  but  in  the  case  of  appointments  to 
the  Guards  the  selection  was  made  by  His  Majesty 
himself  from  a  list  of  officers  specially  distinguished 
and  submitted  by  the  Minister  of  War. 

It  had  leaked  out  —  in  that  mysterious  way  that 
things  will  leak  out  at  Court  —  that  Lord  Ashley, 
in  his  position  of  confidential  adviser  to  the  King, 
had  interfered  in  this  instance  with  the  list  submit- 
ted, as  far  as  two  of  the  appointments,  at  least,  were 
concerned.     The  officer  selected  to  fill  the  permanent 


THE  NEW  CHANCELLOR  287 

vacancy  was  Captain  Farquharson,  an  officer  of  ex- 
cellent family  with  a  gallant  service  record.  His 
name  had  been  on  the  list  submitted  by  the  Minister 
of  War  and  his  appointment  gave  general  satisfac- 
tion at  Court.  The  other  two  appointments,  to  fill 
the  temporary  vacancies,  were  those  of  Captain  Has- 
lam  and  Captain  Bagley.  These  two  names  were  not 
in  the  list  furnished  by  the  Minister  of  War  and 
neither  officer  had  won  any  special  distinction  in  the 
service.  Both  had  served  in  the  field,  and  that  which 
was  chiefly  known  concerning  Captain  Bagley  was 
that  he  had  at  one  time  been  tried  by  court  martial 
for  the  summary  execution  of  certain  Cossacks  un- 
der circumstances  —  if  the  charges  advanced  were 
true  —  of  exceptional  brutality.  True,  the  charges 
had  not  been  fully  proven  and  he  had  been  acquitted, 
but  a  lingering  suspicion  hovered  over  his  name. 
Neither  of  these  men  was  of  the  character  usually 
appointed  to  the  Guards. 

The  Court  grumbled,  but  Lord  Ashley  was  not  the 
manner  of  man  to  be  perturbed  over  mere  grumblings 
and  the  Court  was  forced  to  console  itself  with  the 
reflection  that  the  two  unpopular  appointments  were, 
after  all,  only  likely  to  prove  temporary  ones. 

In  addition  to  this  there  were  other  and  more  mo- 
mentous matters  attracting  the  attention  of  the  Court 
gossips.  There  were  rumors  —  vague,  undefined  but 
persistent  —  of  trouble  brewing  in  the  country  at 
large.  The  Reactionists,  it  was  asserted,  were  show- 
ing unusual  activity  of  late ;  several  quite  prominent 
men,  it  was  said,  were  under  suspicion  of  secretly 
fomenting  insurrectionary  movements  and  certain 
startling  discoveries  in  this  connection  had  lately 
been  made,  thanks  to  the  energy  of  Lord  Ashley,  as- 
sisted by  the  mysterious  Mr.  Kearns,  who  seemed  to 
be  .in  such  close  touch  with  the  King.     In  fact,  Mr. 


288        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

Kearns  bad  come  to  be  regarded  as  one  possessed  of 
secret  power  and  bigb  influence  and  was  the  recipient 
of  numerous  distinguished  attentions  forthwith. 
Various  persons  attached  to  the  Court  sought  him  out, 
entered  into  conversation  and  angled  energetically  for 
information.  Lady  Brooke,  in  particular,  diligently 
pumped  him  for  a  long  half-hour  as  to  what  be  knew 
regarding  the  mysterious  disappearance  of  Captain 
Stanley  Mortimer.  Mr.  Kearns  listened  placidly; 
uttered  solemn  generalities  and  told  nothing.  With 
Lady  Brooke  he  did  go  so  far  as  to  inform  her  that  he 
would  furnish  her  with  the  information  she  desired 
"  in  due  course,"  with  which  answer,  in  spite  of  fur- 
ther energetic  probings,  my  Lady  Brooke  had  to  rest 
content.  The  result  was  that  Mr.  Kearns  was  put 
down  as  a  man  who  knew  more  than  be  would  tell 
and  as  a  very  wise  person  generally.  Lie  was  by 
no  means  the  first  with  whom  a  well-assumed  air  of 
reticence  and  oracular  solemnity  have  passed  for  deep 
wisdom. 

It  was  further  whispered  that  Lord  Ashley  and 
Mr.  Kearns  were  working  hand  in  hand  in  the  matter 
of  the  suspected  conspiracies  and  that  startling  dis- 
closures were  before  long  to  be  anticipated. 

Like  most  rumors,  the  ones  in  question  possessed  a 
certain  percentage  of  truth  and  fact  mixed  with  a  far 
larger  percentage  of  fiction. 

It  was  indeed  true  that  Kearns  had  been  taken  in 
high  favor  by  the  King.  Whether  it  was  Mr. 
Kearns'a  particular  aptitude  for  impressing  people, 
or  whether  it  was  due  to  some  peculiar  intuition,  the 
fact  remained  that  His  Majesty  entertained  the  belief 
that  he  was  the  one  man  above  all  others  suited  to 
occupy  the  position  of  his  confidential  Secret  Service 
.Chief  and  that  it  was  he  who  was  destined  to  unravel 
the  various  mysteries  with  which  His  Majesty  had 


THE  NEW  CHANCELLOR  289 

in  the  past  been  annoyed.  There  was  this  much  to 
be  said  in  favor  of  Kearns  —  he  was  free  from  any 
political  affiliations  and  could  not  by  any  possibility 
be  mixed  up  with  any  Court>  or  outside,  influences : 
an  extremely  desirable  man,  therefore,  from  this 
viewpoint  alone. 

As  for  Mr.  Kearns,  he  maintained  much  the  same 
demeanor  and  policy  with  the  King  that  he  had 
adopted  when  under  the  interrogatory  fire  of  individ- 
ual members  of  the  Court.  As  a  result  of  the  last 
visitation,  the  King  had  found  in  his  chamber  an- 
other threatening  document,  which  set  forth  that  this 
was  the  final  warning;  that  only  a  few  days'  grace 
was  accorded  for  his  compliance  with  previous  de- 
mands and  that,  failing  this,  the  impending  doom 
would  descend. 

^  The  King  wanted  to  know  many  particulars :  the 
disappearance  of  Captain  Mortimer;  the  wounding 
of  Captain  Swords. 

Kearns  adhered  staunchly  and  steadfastly  to  his 
invariable  rule  never  to  make  partial  disclosures; 
never  to  say  anything  until  his  case  was  complete. 
There  was  really  much  to  commend  itself  in  this  plan. 
Every  additional  person  to  whom  information  was 
imparted,  he  considered,  created  an  additional  chance 
of  a  leak;  again,  if  by  any  chance  one  was  on  the 
wrong  track  one  could  retrace  one's  steps  without  let- 
ting anyone  know  of  the  error  into  which  one  had 
fallen  and  thus  lessening  confidence  generally  and  the 
illusion  as  to  one's  infallibility.  But  the  feature 
which,  perhaps,  weighed  most  of  all  with  Mr.  Kearns 
was  that  a  case  told  bit  by  bit,  lost  much  of  the  dra- 
matic sensationalism  accompanying  the  disclosure  of 
the  completed  investigation.  And  Mr.  Kearns  loved 
sensationalism  and  dramatic  effect.  He  was  an  artist 
who  sought  to  flash  up  the  lights  suddenly  upon  his 


290        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

raise  en  scene,  and  the  groupings  after  discovery,  the 
false  scents  followed  up,  the  wrong  suspicions,  the 
mistakes  and  all  the  precise  methods  employed  finally 
to  reach  the  truth  were  so  much  paraphernalia  of 
the  completed  production  which  he  desired  to  keep 
out  of  sight. 

Following  his  system  he  had  told  the  King  practi- 
cally nothing,  except  that  "  satisfactory  progress " 
was  being  made  and  that  he  would  be  prepared  to 
submit  a  completed  case  "  in  due  course."  The 
wounding  of  Captain  Swords  and  the  disappearance 
of  Captain  Mortimer  were  incidents  concerning  which 
he  would  prefer  not  to  furnish  information  at  the 
present  stage.  All  would  be  duly  disclosed  when 
the  case  was  completed.  At  this  the  King  had 
frowned,  but  Mr.  Kearns  was  firm.  The  understand- 
ing when  he  had  taken  up  the  matter  was  that  he 
should  be  permitted  to  employ  his  own  methods  — 
methods  which  had  been  tested  and  had  proved  suc- 
cessful in  the  past  —  and  unless  he  were  permitted  to 
follow  out  these  methods,  he  would  not  be  answerable 
for  results  and  would  prefer  to  be  relieved  from  fur- 
ther prosecution  of  the  inquiry.  As  the  King  was 
intensely  eager  for  the  successful  prosecution  of  the 
inquiry,  and  as  Kearns  was  a  man  who  spoke  with 
confidence  in  his  ultimate  success,  the  King  arrived 
at  the  conclusion  that  it  was  best  to  permit  him  to 
pursue  matters  in  his  own  peculiar  way.  Should  his 
predictions  ultimately  turn  out  a  mere  fiasco,  the 
royal  favor  could  be  withdrawn  and  Kearns  driven 
forth  in  disgrace. 

Lord  Ashley,  too,  had  approached  Kearns,  intimat- 
ing diplomatically  that  they  work  together.  Faced 
with  this  situation,  Kearns  rapidly  cast  matters  over 
in  his  mind  and  decided  to  adhere  to  his  customary 
policy.     He  could  see  nothing  to  be  gained  by  filter- 


THE  NEW  CHANCELLOR  291 

ing  out  such  information  as  he  possessed  to  Lord 
Ashley;  on  the  other  side,  there  might  be  distinct 
disadvantages  in  disclosing  his  hand  and  showing 
how  little  he  so  far  really  held  there.  Lord  Ashley 
had,  therefore,  failed  to  secure  anything  from 
Kearns,  which  circumstance  he  seemed  to  accept  with 
rather  bad  grace. 

As  a  matter  of  fact,  Kearns  was  sorely  puzzled. 
Summing  up  all  he  really  knew,  it  amounted  to  but 
little.  He  knew  how  the  visitations  by  the  enemies 
of  the  King  were  contrived,  but  as  to  who  these  ene- 
mies were,  where  they  lurked  and  what  their  re- 
sources and  objects  were,  he  was  still  in  the  dark. 
He  shrewdly  surmised  the  facts  of  the  attempt  upon 
the  life  of  Captain  Swords ;  still  that  was  a  mere  col- 
lateral incident  and  did  not  avail  him  to  any  appre- 
ciable extent.  Lastly,  he  knew  the  details  accom- 
panying the  disappearance  of  Captain  Mortimer,  but 
with  the  possession  of  these  details  his  knowledge  in 
that  direction  reached  its  limit. 

What  had  become  of  Captain  Mortimer  and  Pro- 
fessor Dean  ?  Kearns  felt  he  had  made  a  very  close 
guess  as  to  the  actual  truth.  That  they  had  met 
with  some  disaster  to  their  air-ship  and  been  hurled 
to  destruction  was,  of  course,  possible;  but  Kearns 
did  not  accept  this  theory.  He  had  the  utmost  con- 
fidence in  the  Professor.  He  was  a  cautious  man ; 
knew  well  what  he  was  about ;  had  made  careful  tests 
of  his  air-ship,  and  had  said  it  could  fly.  This  was 
enough  to  convince  Kearns.  Besides,  if  an  accident 
had  happened,  news  of  it  from  some  source  would 
have  been  had.  In  this  way  Kearns  deduced  the 
truth,  though  for  him  it  was  only  a  theory  that  in  fol- 
lowing up  the  pursuit  they  had  either  been  led  into 
some  trap  or  else  overpowered  by  those  whom  they 
followed  and  made  prisoners. 


292        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN"  KING 

Kearns  had  not  been  blind  to  this  latter  possibility 
from  the  beginning.  The  danger  of  it  had  occupied 
his  attention  long  before  the  Professor  and  Morti- 
mer had  started,  but  it  was  a  danger  he  saw  no  way 
of  averting  under  the  circumstances.  There  was 
nothing  to  be  done  but  to  run  the  risk. 

And  now  this  very  possibility  which  he  had  fore- 
seen, but  could  not  provide  against,  appeared  to  have 
come  to  pass !     What  was  to  be  done  ? 

He  had  an  ingenious  but  elaborate  scheme  of  his 
own  by  which  the  missing  ones  might  possibly  be 
traced,  but  he  laid  it  aside  as  one  involving  the 
expenditure  of  too  much  time  and  affording  too  many 
chances  of  failure.  He  preferred  to  wait  quietly  in 
the  expectant  hope  that  matters  would  presently  take 
a  turn  his  way.  Captain  Mortimer,  he  argued,  was 
a  man  of  energy,  determination  and  courage;  the 
Professor  was  full  of  scientific  resources.  He  had 
faith  in  these  qualities  of  his  two  associates ;  he  had 
an  abiding  faith,  too,  in  his  own  good  luck,  which  had 
rarely  deserted  him  at  a  critical  point.  Whether  it 
was  a  species  of  intuition  or  whether  it  was  simply 
confidence  bred  from  past  successes  he  knew  not,  but 
something  within  him  seemed  to  say  that  the  right 
policy  was  to  watch  quietly  and  wait  and  things 
would  yet  come  his  way. 

But  how  long  that  might  take  and  how  long  the 
King's  patience  would  hold  out,  were  knotty  ques- 
tions which  sorely  perplexed  Mr.  Kearns. 

He  was  aware  from  certain  news  which  reached 
him  and  certain  observations  that,  since  his  refusal 
to  indulge  in  disclosures,  Lord  Ashley  was  doing  ac- 
tive work  in  various  directions,  employing  for  this 
purpose  the  men  of  the  regular  Secret  Service. 
Kearns  had  had  certain  men  of  the  Secret  Service 
assigned  to  him  by  the  King,  in  case  he  should  have 


THE  NEW  CHANCELLOR  293 

use  for  their  services.  These  men  regarded  him  as 
their  possible  future  chief  and  were  anxious  enough 
to  serve  him.  They  brought  him  reports,  therefore, 
of  the  efforts  of  Lord  Ashley  which  were  then  being 
made  through  their  fellows.  They  also  brought  him 
news  concerning  the  restlessness  and  discontent  prev- 
alent throughout  the  country,  which  appeared  to 
have  been  largely  fomented  by  the  grasping  operations 
of  various  great  Trusts,  inflicting  such  hardships  on 
the  people  as  to  make  them  desperate.  A  peculiar 
and  suspicious  circumstance,  too,  was  the  organizing, 
arming  and  drilling  of  many  new  military  bodies, 
formed  ostensibly  as  auxiliary  volunteer  regiments. 
There  seemed  to  be  a  peculiar  free-masonry  about 
them  which  rendered  it  practically  impossible  for 
any  stranger  to  enroll  among  them  and  so  discover 
something  more  definite  as  to  their  true  internal 
affairs.  All  this,  Kearns  was  aware,  was  known  to 
Lord  Ashley,  who  in  addition  had  further  informa- 
tion which  had  not  yet  reached  him. 

It  was,  therefore,  no  great  surprise  to  him  when 
on  the  morning  of  the  sixth  day  after  the  departure 
of  the  Dean  air-ship,  the  King  sent  for  him  and 
opened  the  interview  by  announcing  that  Lord  Ashley 
had  succeeded  in  making  important  discoveries. 
Kearns,  with  an  air  of  well-assumed  indifference,  in- 
quired if  he  might  venture  to  ask  what  these  discov- 
eries might  be.  His  Majesty  was  pleased  to  smile 
indulgently  and  reply  that  Lord  Ashley  seemed  to  be 
rivaling  Kearns  in  the  matter  of  reticence.  Certain 
facts,  however,  His  Majesty  was  willing  to  impart  to 
Kearns.  They  might,  he  suggested,  assist  his  investi- 
gations and,  if  their  views  were  agreed,  he  might  see 
his  way  to  co-operating  with  Lord  Ashley. 

His  Majesty  then  gave  the  information  that  Lord 
Ashley  had  made   discoveries  convincing  him   that 


294       THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

certain  conspiracies  were  hatching  and  certain  sedi- 
tious movements  on  foot.  Lord  Ashley  had  informa- 
tion showing  Captain  Stanley  Mortimer's  participa- 
tion in  these  treasonable  transactions.  He  had,  in 
fact,  aided  and  abetted  the  enemies  of  the  King  upon 
the  occasion  of  their  last  visitation  to  the  palace  and, 
believing  he  had  been  seen  and  recognized  by  Cap- 
tain Swords,  had  shot  the  latter  and  escaped,  never 
to  return,  or  else,  learning  that  no  suspicion  had 
attached  itself  to  him  on  account  of  the  Swords  inci- 
dent, he  would  return  and  tender  some  specious  pre- 
text for  his  absence.  Of  course,  his  presence  in  the 
palace  would  be  a  danger  and  a  menace. 

Kearns  listened  to  the  end.  Only  the  august  pres- 
ence in  which  he  stood  prevented  him  from  laughing 
outright. 

"  And  are  these  the  disclosures  Lord  Ashley  made 
to  you,  Sire  ?  "  asked  Kearns,  with  a  cynical  smile. 

"  Such  is,  in  brief,  part  of  the  report,"  said  the 
King.     "  What  have  you  to  say  to  it  ?  " 

"  Simply  this,  Sire,"  answered  Kearns ;  "  it  shows 
how  grievously  a  man  will  blunder  when  he  dabbles 
in  an  art  he  doesn't  understand." 

"  Ah,  you  differ  with  Lord  Ashley  ?  " 

"  Not  only  differ  with  him,  Sire,"  replied  Kearns 
boldly,  "  but  I  pronounce  him  wholly  and  utterly 
wrong.  Why,  Captain  Swords  himself  can  assure 
you  of  this  !  " 

"  Captain  Swords,"  said  the  King,  "  did  not  see 
his  assailant  and  is  himself,  I  am  informed,  entirely 
deceived  as  to  Captain  Mortimer." 

"  I  beg  to  assure  you,  Sire,"  declared  Kearns 
earnestly,  "  that  Captain  Mortimer  has  been  guilty 
of  no  conspiracy,  or  other  seditious  act.  He  is  one 
of    the    bravest    and    most    loyal    officers    in    Your 


THE  NEW  CHANCELLOR  295 

Majesty's  service.  You  have  been  utterly  misled  in 
this  matter." 

"  You  speak  with  such  conviction/'  said  the  King, 
"  that  your  words  carry  weight  with  us.  Still,  we 
would  learn  the  reasons  with  which  you  support  your 
assertions." 

"  When  I  assumed  this  task,  Sire,"  replied  Kearns, 
"  it  was  with  the  express  stipulation  that  I  should 
he  permitted  to  adopt  my  own  methods.  I  must  beg 
you,  Sire,  to  permit  me  to  withhold  my  report  until 
I  can  present  a  completed  case." 

"  Be  it  as  you  ask,  then,"  said  the  King,  with  a 
slight  frown.  "  We  would  not  have  it  in  your  power 
to  ascribe  failure  to  any  interference  you  had  met 
with.  In  the  meantime,  you  must  not  be  astonished 
if  we  give  ear  and  weight  to  the  disclosures  of  Lord 
Ashley.  He,  at  least,  brings  some  news  and  that 
news  we  regard  as  of  sufficient  importance  to  warrant 
the  apprehension  of  Captain  Mortimer  and  we  have 
so  ordered." 

Kearns   visibly    expressed  his   astonishment. 

"  Captain  Mortimer,"  continued  the  King,  "  has, 
we  are  aware,  performed  gallant  military  service 
and  his  arrest  has  been  so  ordered  as  to  preserve  due 
secrecy  and  not  injure  his  career  should  it  develop, 
as  you  pretend,  that  a  mistake  has  been  made." 

"  It  most  assuredly  has,  Sire,"  replied  Kearns. 

"  When  you  are  prepared  to  furnish  proof  of  that 
fact,"  rejoined  the  King,  "  the  order  can  be  res- 
cinded. Until  then  it  will  stand.  It  behooves  you 
to  hasten.  We  leave  for  our  City  Palace  to-day  but 
shall  return  here  to-morrow.  It  would  meet  our 
pleasure  and  win  our  approval  should  you  be  pre- 
pared to  furnish  such  proof,  or  other  report,  by  to- 
morrow." With  these  words  the  King  signified  that 
the  interview  was  at  an  end. 


296        THE  FIEST  AMERICAN  KING 

Somewhat  downcast  Kearns  retired  to  the  room 
assigned  him  off  the  Chancellerie.  The  end  of  his 
rope  seemed  near  at  hand.  Here  was  the  King  in- 
sisting on  a  report  on  the  next  day  and  here  he  was 
practically  without  news.  He  looked  wistfully,  as 
he  had  so  often  looked  during  the  past  few  days,  at 
the  little  aerestograph.  Ah,  if  it  would  only  bring 
its  message ! 

Kearns  regretted  that  Captain  Mortimer  should 
have  been  brought  under  suspicion  so  undeservedly. 
Lord  Ashley  was  apparently  playing  a  peculiar  game. 
He  wondered  what  that  game  might  be.  He  de- 
cided it  would  be  well  to  see  Lord  Ashley  and  pos- 
sibly gain  some  further  light  on  the  subject. 

With  another  wistful  glance  at  the  aerestograph, 
he  walked  to  the  door  connecting  his  room  with  the 
main  room  of  the  Chancellerie.  He  opened  the  door, 
pushed  aside  the  heavy  portiere  hanging  before  it  and 
passed  in.  Lord  Ashley  proved  to  be  engaged  at 
the  moment,  but  requested  that  he  return  in  half  an 
hour. 

Kearns  accordingly  made  his  way  back  to  his  room. 
As  he  entered  he  halted  abruptly  and  his  heart  gave 
a  great  bound.  The  aerestograph  was  vigorously 
signaling  for  someone  to  receive  a  message. 

With  an  effort  he  controlled  his  excitement,  ran 
to  the  instrument  and  signaled  back.  Communica- 
tion established,  Dean's  message  began  to  come.  His 
recent  interview  with  the  King  in  mind,  Kearns  sent 
back  the  warning  message. 

In  his  excitement  Kearns  could  hardly  refrain 
from  executing  a  few  fancy  steps.  This  very  night 
amid  the  sheltering  trees  at  the  further  end  of  the 
Queen's  Walk,  he  would  know  all !  Truly,  the  news 
came  in  the  nick  of  time !  At  last  fortune  was  smil- 
ing sweetly ! 


THE  NEW  CHANCELLOR  297 

It  was  with  buoyant  spirits  that  Kearns  went  to 
his  interview  with  Lord  Ashley  half  an  hour  later. 
The  Chancellor  met  him  coldly  and  proved  extremely 
reticent.  Finally  Kearns  touched  upon  the  subject 
of  Captain  Mortimer  and  assured  him  that  he  was 
making  a  serious  mistake  in  his  accusation.  Lord 
Ashley  listened  to  his  assurances  with  cold  cynicism. 
He  replied  shortly  that  he  well  knew  what  he  was 
doing  and  would  be  personally  answerable  for  any 
mistakes  made.  At  this  reply,  Mr.  Kearns  felt  him- 
self growing  warm  behind  the  ears  and  somewhat 
brusquely  rejoined  that  in  this  particular  case  the 
noble  lord  did  not  know  what  he  was  doing.  To  this 
Milord  Ashley  retorted  with  a  sneer  that  he  believed 
one  would  not  need  to  know  much  concerning  Captain 
Mortimer  to  be  in  possession  of  more  information  on 
the  subject  than  Mr.  Kearns  held. 

"  Ah,  you  really  think  so !  "  exclaimed  Kearns,  be- 
coming suddenly  cool.  "  It  is  as  serious  a  mistake 
as  the  other." 

"  Indeed !  "  retorted  Lord  Ashley  with  the  same 
sneer. 

"  Yes,"  rejoined  Kearns,  "  and  it  may  interest  you 
to  learn  that  I  have  within  the  past  few  minutes  been 
in  direct  communication  with  Captain  Mortimer. 
It  is  only  a  question  of  hours  when  he  will  present 
himself  here  to  confront  you  and  answer  to  the 
King!" 

And  while  the  expression  of  astonishment  which 
this  very  positive  announcement  created  still  lingered 
upon  Lord  Ashley's  features,  Mr.  Kearns  bowed 
politely  and  with  a  satisfied  and  triumphant  smile 
withdrew. 

Punctual  to  the  stroke,  he  repaired  at  midnight  to 
the  appointed  spot  at  the  end  of  the  Queen's  Walk 
and  found  Mortimer  and  Dean  already  awaiting  him. 


298        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

"  When  did  you  arrive  ?  "  asked  Kearns,  after  the 
first  greetings. 

"  Only  a  few  minutes  ago,"  answered  the  Profes- 
sor. "  We  came  back  very  slowly,  purposely  delay- 
ing our  arrival  until  after  nightfall,  in  accordance 
with  your  instructions." 

"  And  what  have  you  done  with  the  air-ship  ?  " 

"  We  had  to  descend  within  the  park  itself,"  re- 
plied Dean,  "  otherwise  we  could  not  have  got  past 
the  sentries.  The  air-ship  is  concealed  among  the 
trees  near  the  river.  It  will  be  safe  enough  until 
morning." 

Without  further  delay,  Mortimer  and  Dean  told 
Kearns  all  the  events  in  connection  with  their  cap- 
ture and  escape,  and  what  they  had  learned  during 
their  detention.  All  they  suppressed  was  any  infor- 
mation as  to  the  precise  location  of  the  valley. 
Kearns  listened  intently,  asking  various  questions. 
He  was  now,  indeed,  in  a  position  to  present  a  com- 
pleted case!  Here  was  information,  in  truth,  for 
His  Majesty,  the  King!  How  the  puny  disclosures 
of  Milord  Ashley  would  pale  into  insignificance  be- 
side such  disclosures  as  these ! 

Kearns,  in  turn,  narrated  the  events  which  had  oc- 
curred at  the  palace  since  their  departure  —  the 
wounding  of  Captain  Swords,  who  was  rapidly  re- 
covering ;  the  death  of  the  Duke  of  Marquanna ;  the 
elevation  of  Lord  Ashley  to  the  office  of  Chancellor ; 
the  investigations  started  and  accusations  launched 
by  the  latter,  and  the  order  of  arrest  issued  against 
Mortimer. 

The  latter  was  naturally  both  astonished  and  in- 
dignant, but  not  so  much  so  as  Dean,  in  the  light  of 
his  past  experiences  with  him,  would  have  expected. 
After  listening  to  the  end  of  Kearns's  recital,  he  said 
that  he  strongly  suspected  Lord  Ashley  of  personal 


THE  NEW  CHANCELLOR  290 

motives  in  giving  credence  to  these  suspicions.  Lord 
Ashley,  in  his  present  position  as  Chancellor,  was 
possessed  of  a  great  deal  of  power  and  they  must  act 
cleverly  and  cautiously.  The  best  to  be  done  was  to 
secure,  as  quickly  as  possible,  an  audience  with  the 
King  and  explain  to  him  all.  In  any  event,  Morti- 
mer insisted  it  was  his  duty  to  communicate  prompt- 
ly to  the  King  his  knowledge  of  the  revolutionary 
movement.  Whether  the  threatened  attack  took  place 
as  predicted  or  not,  the  King  must  be  speedily  ap- 
prized. 

But  the  King's  absence  until  the  morrow  made 
immediate  communication  impossible.  Kearns  sug- 
gested that  Mortimer  and  Dean  retire  to  a  neighbor- 
ing village  until  the  following  day.  Immediately 
the  King  returned,  he  would  arrange  an  interview 
for  Mortimer.  In  this  plan  Mortimer  refused  to 
acquiesce.  He  said  that  as  an  order  of  arrest  had 
been  issued  against  him,  it  was  his  duty,  as  a  military 
officer,  to  surrender  at  once.  He  did  not  care  to  play 
the  fugitive  even  for  one  night.  Besides,  he  added, 
what  difference  did  it  make  ?  It  was  only  a  ques- 
tion of  a  few  hours  and,  although  a  prisoner,  he  would 
be  made  as  comfortable  as  in  his  own  quarters  and 
would  be  treated  with  the  consideration  due  to  an 
officer  of  the  Guard. 

As  Mortimer  could  not  be  dissuaded  from  his  views 
on  this  point,  it  was  finally  decided  that  he  should 
come  forward  at  once  and  subject  himself  to  arrest 
and  that  Kearns  should  return  as  quietly  as  possible 
with  Dean  to  the  palace.  Immediately  upon  the  ar- 
rival of  the  King  upon  the  following  day,  Kearns 
was  to  see  His  Majesty  and  impart  to  him  such  in- 
formation as  would  lead  to  Mortimer  being  accorded 
a  prompt  interview. 

This  plan  having  been  decided  upon,  they  walked 


300        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

together  along  the  further  end  of  the  park  toward 
one  of  the  entrances.  Presently  Mortimer  stopped 
and,  taking  leave  of  them,  went  forward  alone. 

"  Who  goes  there !  "  came  the  challenge  of  the 
sentinel. 

"  Officer  of  the  Guard,"  replied  Mortimer. 

"  Advance,  Officer  of  the  Guard,  and  give  the 
countersign." 

Mortimer  walked  up  to  the  sentry-box  and  the  sol- 
dier, recognizing  his  officer,  smartly  brought  his  car- 
bine to  the  salute. 

"  Send  for  the  officer  of  the  day,"  ordered  Morti- 
mer. 

The  soldier  reached  into  the  sentry-box  and  touched 
a  signal. 

A  few  moments  later  Captain  Bingham  appeared. 
There  was  a  cordial  greeting  on  both  sides  and  then 
Captain  Bingham  leaned  forward  and  whispered 
something  close  to  Mortimer's  ear. 

"  Yes,  I  know !  "  interrupted  Mortimer,  and  arm 
in  arm  they  strolled  away  in  the  direction  of  the  mili- 
tary quarters. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

FROM   BEHIND   THE   CUKTAIN 

"  So  he  has  returned  ?  "  said  Lady  Brooke. 

"  Yes,"  replied  Lord  Ashley,  "  and  is  a  prisoner. 
I  hold  him  in  my  grasp." 

"  I  don't  like  that  last,"  said  Lady  Brooke.  "  It 
sounds  vindictive.  By  the  way,  I  may  say  frankly 
that  it's  well  he  returned  just  when  he  did.  I  was 
beginning  to  grow  suspicious." 

"  Suspicious,  Milady  ?    Of  what,  may  I  ask  ?  " 

"  Of  you,"  retorted  Lady  Brooke,  with  unabashed 
frankness.  "  I  don't  forget  that  though  we  work  to- 
gether, yet  your  interests  in  this  matter  are  somewhat 
different  from  mine.  It  would  doubtless  suit  you 
well  enough  if  he  were  put  out  of  the  way  for  good 
and  all,  but  that's  no  part  of  my  plan.  My  compact 
was  only  for  a  temporary  injury  —  one  that  it  would 
be  possible  to  repair  readily." 

"  It  seems  to  me,  Milady,  that  you  always  were 
somewhat  given  to  suspicion,"  retorted  Lord  Ashley, 
with  a  slight  sneer. 

Lady  Brooke  reddened  and  an  angry  light  shone  in 
her  eyes. 

"  It  may  be  well,"  she  said  slowly,  "  for  you  to 
remember,  Milord,  that  I  expect  any  compact  you 
may  make  with  me  to  be  kept  fully  and  fairly. 
Chancellors  may  be  made,"  she  continued  with  em- 
phasis, "  and  they  may  also  be  unmade,  if  history 
records  aright.  I  have  still  some  influence  near  the 
Throne,  as  those  who  care  to  question  it  may  find." 

301 


302       THE  FIRST  AMERICAN"  KING 

"  Royalty,  it  is  said,  is  rarely  grateful  for  past 
favors,  but  I  will  admit  there  are  exceptions,  Mi- 
lady," said  Lord  Ashley  in  honeyed  accents. 

"  Would  you  care  to  measure  how  much  that  in- 
fluence is  a  matter  of  the  past  ?  "  asked  Lady  Brooke, 
with  concentrated  anger.  "  Would  it  astonish  you, 
perhaps,  to  discover  that  influence  to  be  greater  to- 
day than  ever  ? " 

"  Ah,  a  dual  influence !  "  exclaimed  Lord  Ashley. 
"  You  have  in  mind,  no  doubt,  your  charming  pro- 
tegee, the  beautiful  Miss  Cameron,  lately  presented 
by  you  at  Court  and  incidentally  to  the  attention  of 
His  Majesty." 

"  Enough !  "  exclaimed  Lady  Brooke,  her  anger 
flashing  suddenly  into  flame ;  "  since  you  dare " 

"  There,  there !  "  interrupted  Lord  Ashley  sooth- 
ingly. "  Don't  let  us  quarrel.  I  have  no  intention 
of  questioning  your  power,  past  or  present,  Milady, 
nor  do  I  seek  to  have  that  power  turned  against  me. 
I  have  enemies  enough  already.  Won't  you  now  lis- 
ten to  my  plan  ?  " 

"  What  is  it  ? "  asked  Lady  Brooke,  still  angry, 
but  grown  suddenly  wary. 

"This,"  said  Lord  Ashley:  "At  fifteen  and  a 
half  o'clock  to-day,  Captain  Haslam,  who  is  the  officer 
of  the  day,  will  receive  an  order  bearing  the  Royal 
seal,  to  release  Captain  Mortimer.  This  order  he 
will  immediately  execute  and  then  proceed  to  destroy 
the  order  and  forget  that  he  ever  received  such  docu- 
ment. As  you  know,  Captain  Haslam  is  one  of  my 
appointees  and  he  can  be  trusted  implicitly  to  carry 
out  my  commands.  The  same  messenger  who  carries 
the  order  of  release  will  leave  for  Captain  Mortimer 
a  letter,  requesting  him  to  proceed  at  once  to  the  little 
summer  house  on  Antler  Hill,  a  short  distance  away 
in  the  Park,  where  he  will  meet  the  friend  who  has 


FROM  BEHIND  THE  CURTAIN       303 

procured  his  release  and  learn  matters  of  importance 
to  him.    Do  you  follow  me  thus  far,  Milady  ?  " 

"  Yes,  yes,"  hastily  assented  Lady  Brooke. 

"  Gratified  over  this  sudden  release,"  continued 
Lord  Ashley,  "  and  curious  to  ascertain  who  this 
friend  may  be  and  what  is  to  be  imparted  to  him,  it 
is  only  natural  to  infer  that  Captain  Mortimer  will 
lose  no  time  in  making  his  way  to  the  rendezvous. 
Needless  to  say  that  the  friend  he  will  find  there  will 
be  —  you." 

"  Yes,"  assented  Lady  Brooke.     "  Continue." 

"  You  will  inform  him,"  proceeded  Lord  Ashley, 
"  that  he  is  the  victim  of  a  court  intrigue ;  that  the 
King's  mind  is  poisoned  against  him  for  the  time 
being  and  that  he  is  in  serious  danger;  that  you, 
knowing  this,  have  secured  his  release  by  a  forged 
order;  that  his  only  safety  lies  in  temporary  flight 
and  concealment  and  that,  if  he  will  follow  your  in- 
structions, you  can  surely  promise  him  that  within 
two  short  months  all  danger  will  have  disappeared, 
when  he  will  be  restored  to  royal  favor  and  appointed 
to  the  Colonelcy  of  any  one  of  the  crack  cavalry  regi- 
ments he  may  select  —  outside  of  the  Guards.  By 
this  plan,"  continued  Lord  Ashley,  "  we  both  attain 
our  ends  —  the  temporary  removal  of  the  gallant 
Captain  from  the  atmosphere  of  the  Court ;  and  you, 
in  addition,  secure  control  of  his  person  and  move- 
ments to  do  with  him  practically  as  you  will." 

"  But  suppose  he  should  refuse  the  bait  ? "  in- 
quired Lady  Brooke.  "  Suppose  he  elects  to  stay 
and  face  the  danger  ?  " 

"  Ah,  that  is  a  matter,  Milady,  which  it  seems  to 
me  lies  with  you !  "  protested  Lord  Ashley.  "  I 
really  think  you  estimate  your  powers  of  persuasion 
and  of  —  of  —  attraction  too  lightly." 


304        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

"  But  suppose  lie  should  refuse  ?  "  persisted  Ladv 
Brooke.     "  What  then  ?  " 

"  Then,"  replied  Lord  Ashley,  "  I  don't  see  that 
we  shall  be  any  worse  off  than  before.  If  he  refuse, 
he  will  simply  return  to  the  military  quarters  and 
surrender  himself  once  more.  It  will  be  time  enough 
then  to  put  our  heads  together  and  see  what  fur- 
ther we  can  do,  but  by  trying  this  present  plan  it 
affords  us  at  least  a  chance  of  success.  Remember 
that  he  must  have  heard  something  of  your  influence 
at  Court  and  you  are  certainly  holding  out  a  very 
brilliant  inducement  to  him." 

"  Well,  I  am  willing  to  try,"  said  Lady  Brooke, 
with  determination.  "  We  shall  see  what  will  come 
of  it." 

"  And  you  will  succeed !  "  declared  Lord  Ashley, 
with  conviction.  "  I  am  positive  we  shall  both  suc- 
ceed!" 

Lady  Brooke  had  been  gone  but  a  few  minutes 
when  Captain  Haslam  was  anounced. 

"  Captain  Haslam,"  said  Lord  Ashley,  "  at  fifteen 
and  a  half  o'clock  to-day,  or  perhaps  even  a  little 
earlier,  an  order  will  be  presented  to  you  for  the  re- 
lease of  Captain  Stanley  Mortimer,  accompanied  with 
a  letter  for  him.  You  will  have  that  letter  delivered 
to  him  at  once  and  you  will  immediately  release  the 
prisoner.  The  instant  he  leaves  the  quarters,  you 
will  destroy  the  order  and,  under  any  and  all  circum- 
stances, you  will  forever  forget  that  such  an  order  has 
ever  reached  your  hands.  Whenever  the  question 
comes  up  as  to  the  disposition  of  this  prisoner,  he 
has  escaped.     You  clearly  understand  ?  " 

"  I  clearly  understand,  Milord,"  answered  Captain 
Haslam,  as  he  saluted  and  retired. 

Lord  Ashley's  next  visitor  was  Captain  Bagley. 

"  Captain,"  said  Lord  Ashley  abruptly,  "  you  are 


FROM  BEHIND  THE  CURTAIN       305 

called  upon  for  a  certain  service  of  state,  such  as 
occasionally  arises  in  the  affairs  of  government. 
Upon  your  faithful  and  discreet  performance  of  that 
service  depends  the  matter  of  future  favors  and  pro- 
motion." 

Captain  Bagley  bowed  low,  maintaining  a  respect- 
ful silence. 

"  Your  orders  are  these,"  continued  Lord  Ashley : 
"  At  fifteen  o'clock  to-day  you  will  proceed  to  a  point 
in  the  park  where  you  can  observe  the  Summer  house 
upon  Antler  Hill.  Conceal  yourself  from  observa- 
tion among  the  trees,  or  bushes.  At  about  fifteen 
and  three-quarters  o'clock  you  will  observe  an  escaped 
prisoner  walking  along  the  Stag  Walk  toward  Antler 
Hill.  That  escaped  prisoner  will  be  Captain  Stan- 
ley Mortimer.  Permit  him  to  proceed  to  Antler 
Hill,  where  he  will  be  met  by  a  certain  personage, 
whom  it  is  not  your  concern  to  recognize.  Should 
he  leave  Antler  Hill  in  company  with  that  personage, 
you  will  permit  him  to  go  unhindered  on  his  way. 
Should  he  leave  alone  and  seek  to  return  in  the  direc- 
tion of  the  military  quarters,  or  the  palace,  then  your 
instructions  are  different.  Do  you  understand  thus 
far  ?  " 

"  Fully,  Milord !  "  answered  Captain  Bagley. 

"  Should  he  start  to  return,"  continued  Lord  Ash- 
ley, "  he  cannot  possibly  do  so  until  sixteen  o'clock, 
or  later.  The  moment  sixteen  o'clock  has  sounded 
and  you  find  him  upon  the  return  journey,  you  will 
come  upon  him  and  shoot  him  dead.  You  under- 
stand ?  " 

"  Fully !  "  repeated  Captain  Bagley. 

"  Your  excuse  will  be  that  he  was  an  escaping 
prisoner  and  that  your  life  was  in  danger.  For  the 
rest,  you  may  look  to  me  to  protect  you  fully  in  your 
action." 

20 


306        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

Captain  Bagly  bowed. 

"  You  notice  here,"  continued  Lord  Ashley,  point- 
ing to  an  instrument  beside  the  wall,  with  a  large 
reflector  above  it,  "  the  sigmagraph.  As  you  know, 
it  is  used  to  signal  the  guard  house  to  turn  out  a 
guard  of  honor  and  salute  when  some  visitor  of  rank 
is  about  to  leave  the  Chancellerie.  Five  flashes  of 
the  sigmagraph  are  the  signal  for  the  guard ;  any 
smaller  number  are  mere  test  signals.  At  sixteen 
o'clock,  precisely  to  the  last  stroke,  you  will  turn 
your  eyes  to  the  signal  receiver  upon  the  roof  of  the 
military  quarters.  Should  no  signal  come,  you  will 
follow  out  the  instructions  given.  Should  you  notice 
three  flashes  from  the  sigmagraph,  then  your  orders 
are  cancelled  and  the  escaping  prisoner  is  to  be  per- 
mitted to  pass  unhindered.  Are  these  instructions 
clear  to  you  ?  " 

"  Entirely,  Milord !  "  answered  Captain  Bagley. 

"  And  I  can  count  upon  your  faithful  and  discreet 
performance  ?  " 

"  Absolutely,  Milord  !  " 

"  It  is  well,  then,"  said  Lord  Ashley.  "  Remem- 
ber that  neither  His  Majesty,  nor  the  Chancellerie, 
is  unmindful  of  service  and  that  due  reward  attends 
those  who  serve  His  Majesty  and  His  Majesty's  Gov- 
ernment faithfully  and  well.  No  better  service  can 
be  done  than  to  exterminate,  if  needs  be,  traitors  and 
hatchers  of  treason.  I  make  myself  clear  to  you  in 
this?" 

"  Nothing  could  be  clearer,  Milord !  " 

"  It  would  not  astonish  me,  Captain,  to  see  you  one 
day  at  the  head  of  a  Division." 

"  I  shall  ever  strive  to  earn  your  approval,  Milord 
Chancellor !  "  replied  Captain  Bagley,  as  he  saluted 
and  retired. 

While  Lord  Ashley  was  thus  occupied  in  issuing 


FROM  BEHIND  THE  CURTAIN       307 

instructions  Mr.  Kearns  was  busily  engaged  in  en- 
deavoring to  get  in  touch  with  the  King.  After  dili- 
gent inquiry,  he  ascertained  that  His  Majesty  had 
left  the  City  Palace  and  was  then  upon  the  return 
journey.  It  was,  however,  not  His  Majesty's  inten- 
tion to  return  direct,  but  to  stop  en  route  at  Fairoaks, 
the  country  estate  of  Sir  Foxhall  Sharpe,  some  thirty 
miles  from  the  Summer  Palace,  where  a  garden-party 
to  be  attended  by  the  King,  the  Queen  and  the  Court 
was  to  be  held  that  afternoon.  It  was  rumored  in 
Court  circles  that  the  real  attraction  of  the  garden 
party  was  a  certain  Miss  Cameron,  to  whom  recently 
had  been  drawn  the  attention  of  the  King.  The 
Queen,  it  was  said,  had  in  consequence  of  the  pres- 
ence of  this  Miss  Cameron  among  the  guests  been 
with  difficulty  induced  to  lend  her  presence,  only 
consenting  finally  in  order  to  prevent  the  appearance 
of  a  public  scandal. 

Kearns  secured  a  phaeromobile  from  the  royal 
garage  and  hurried  off  to  Fairoaks,  passing  as  he  went 
a  number  of  court  mobiles  on  the  way  to  the  garden- 
party.  Reaching  Fairoaks,  he  found  that  the  King 
had  arrived,  but  had  retired  to  rest  after  his  journey. 
His  Majesty  had  given  orders  that  he  was  not  to  be 
disturbed. 

It  was  only  after  a  long  and  weary  wait  of  more 
than  two  hours  that  Kearns  succeeded  in  getting  his 
urgent  message  to  the  King.  His  Majesty  sent  for 
him  at  once,  but  received  him  with  some  show  of 
impatience. 

"  Well,"  said  the  King,  "  we  assume  that  your  case 
is  completed  at  last  and  that  it  must  be  both  interest- 
ing and  important  to  be  forced  upon  our  attention 
at  the  present  time !  " 

"  The  case  is  fully  completed,  Sire,"  answered 
Kearns,  "  and  in  importance  will  not,  I  think,  die- 


308        THE  FIKST  AMERICAN  KING 

appoint  your  expectations.  I  am  prepared  to  report 
now." 

"  Not  now,"  interrupted  the  King.  "  We  would 
prefer  to  learn  the  details  at  the  palace  —  upon  our 
return." 

"  But  the  matters  I  have  to  impart,  Sire,  are  most 
pressing  —  most  urgent !  " 

"  So  are  matters  here,"  exclaimed  the  King,  with 
a  peculiar  smile.  "  Certain  rumors  —  as  wicked  as 
they  are  unfounded  —  have,  it  has  reached  our  ears, 
been  set  afloat  and  have  deeply  shocked  us.  It  has 
become  necessary  by  our  presence  here,  and  that  of 
Her  Majesty,  to  discountenance  these  scandalous 
gossi  pings." 

Mr.  Kearns  could  accommodate  his  intelligence  to 
that  which  was  required  of  him  as  well  as  the  next 
man.  He  accordingly  contrived  to  inject  into  his 
countenance  the  necessary  quantum  of  astonishment 
and  indignation  and  having  done  this,  he  promptly 
returned  to  the  charge. 

"  It  becomes  my  duty  to  report  to  you,  Sire,"  he 
said,  "  that  danger  threatens  and  that  an  armed  at- 
tack is  projected." 

It  was  the  King's  turn  to  look  startled  and  aston- 
ished. 

"  When  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Possibly  within  three  days." 

"  Are  you  sure  of  this  ?  " 

"  Positive !  " 

"  And  can  you  confirm  your  facts  ? " 

"  Absolutely" 

"How?" 

"  Through  Captain  Stanley  Mortimer  and  an- 
other." 

"  You  are  sure  of  this  ?  " 

"  Entirelv  so." 

-<Ah!"  " 


FROM  BEHIND  THE  CURTAIN       309 

The  King  remained  for  a  moment  in  deep  thought. 

"  Three  days,"  he  murmured.  "  That  will  give 
all  the  time  required  for  any  concentration  of  our 
forces  which  may  be  necessary.  Two  hours  cannot 
make  much  difference  in  these  preparations.  We 
will  remain  here  for  that  time  and  then  return  to 
the  palace." 

"  In  view  of  the  character  of  my  information," 
persisted  Kearns,  "  I  urge  you,  Sire,  to  the  utmost 
expedition.  I  beg  you  to  release  Captain  Mortimer 
at  once  and  to  send  for  him  and  hear  his  story." 

"  No,"  answered  the  King,  "  to  leave  here  thus 
suddenly  would  create  much  undesirable  speculation 
and  gossip.  This  you  shall  do.  We  will  sign  the 
order  for  Captain  Mortimer's  release,  which  you 
shall  bear  to  him  at  once.  Direct  him  to  repair  to 
the  palace  and  hold  himself  in  readiness  for  an  im- 
mediate audience.  When  you  have  done  this,  you 
will  hasten  back  here  and  report.  By  that  time  we 
shall  be  prepared  to  return  to  our  palace  and  listen 
to  the  full  details  of  this  news.  You  may  now  go 
and  carry  out  these  instructions." 

"  You  have  not  yet  given  me,  Sire,  the  order  for 
Captain  Mortimer's  release." 

The  King  crossed  to  a  writing-table,  hastily  wrote 
the  requisite  order  and  handed  it  to  Kearns. 

"  We  would  not  lightly  affront  our  Chancellor," 
he  said.  "  You  will,  therefore,  keep  Captain  Morti- 
mer discreetly  out  of  sight  until  our  return  and  until 
we  have  gathered  from  his  story  whether  this  release 
is  fully  warranted  by  the  facts.  Should  you  chance 
to  meet  our  Chancellor,  tell  him  nothing  of  this  re- 
lease, but  bid  him  summon  General  Pierson,  in 
command  of  the  First  Army  Corps,  to  the  palace. 
Go  now,  and  upon  your  return  here  you  will  find  us 
fully  ready  to  proceed." 


310        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

Kearns  bowed  and  retired.  He  made  bis  way 
tbrougb  tbe  gardens,  and,  stepping  into  bis  phaero- 
niobile,  started  on  tbe  return  journey  to  tbe  palace. 

As  Mr.  Kearns  passed  tbrougb  tbe  gardens  of  Fair- 
oaks,  be  bad  noticed  among  tbe  guests  Miss  Dorothy 
Brandon  and  Miss  Beatrice  Cuming.  Tbey  also  had 
seen  bim  and  had  bowed.  Just  as  Kearns  passed  out 
of  tbe  grounds,  Lady  Hill,  one  of  Her  Majesty's 
ladies-in-waiting,  came  hurrying  forward  and  greeted 
Dorothy. 

"  I  have  been  looking  all  over  for  you,"  said  Lady 
Hill.     "  I  bring  you  an  order  from  the  Queen." 

"  Yes  ?  "  answered  Dorothy.     "  What  is  it  ?  " 

"  You  are  to  return  at  once  to  tbe  palace,"  said 
Lady  Hill,  "  and  present  yourself  at  the  Chancellerie. 
The  Chancellor  desires  to  see  you  upon  urgent  mat- 
ters." 

Dorothy  seemed  both  startled  and  astonished. 

"  The  Chancellor  desires  to  see  me ! "  she  ex- 
claimed. "  What  can  it  be  about  ?  I  would  prefer 
not  to  go." 

"  Not  go !  "  answered  Lady  Hill,  who  was  a  great 
stickler  for  etiquette,  evidently  quite  shocked. 
"  Why,  my  dear,  this  is  a  royal  command  I  bring 
you." 

"  But  what  can  the  Chancellor  want  to  see  me 
about  \  "  persisted  Dorothy. 

"  I  don't  know,"  replied  Lady  Hill,  "  except  that 
it  is  a  matter  of  state.  The  Chancellor's  request  was 
addressed  to  the  Queen,  in  the  usual  form  —  you  be- 
ing attached  to  Her  Majesty's  suite  —  and  the  Chan- 
cellor urgently  asks  your  attendance  at  once.  The 
Queen,  of  course,  immediately  gave  this  order  which 
I  bring  you." 

"  I  would  much  prefer  not  to  go,"  said  Dorothy. 

"  But  for  what  reason  ?  "  demanded  Lady  Hill. 


FROM  BEHIND  THE  CURTAIN      311 

"  Oh,  it  would  be  much  nicer  to  remain  here,"  an- 
swered Dorothy  vaguely.  "  Don't  you  think  I  might 
seek  audience  with  the  Queen  and  ask  her  to  with- 
draw the  order  ? " 

"  Certainly  not ! "  said  Lady  Hill  severely. 
"  Such  a  proceeding  would  be  entirely  improper  and 
contrary  to  Court  etiquette." 

"  Well,  but  could  I  not,"  persisted  Dorothy,  "  en- 
deavor to  arrange  this  matter,  whatever  it  is,  with  the 
Chancellor  over  the  audiphone  ?  " 

"  I  am  not  familiar  with  the  etiquette  of  the  Chan- 
cellor," said  Lady  Hill  frostily ;  "  but  I  fancy  that 
the  Chancellor  does  not  usually  discuss  matters  of 
state  over  the  audiphone.  As  a  maid  of  honor  at- 
tached to  Her  Majesty's  suite,  it  is  your  duty  not  to 
quibble  over  the  orders  of  the  Sovereign,  but  to  obey." 

"  Very  well,"  answered  Dorothy  resignedly.  "  I 
shall  go  at  once.     Will  you  come  with  me,  Trixy  ? " 

"  Certainly,  my  dear,"  replied  Beatrice. 

"  It's  too  bad  we  have  to  go,"  remarked  Dorothy  as 
they  made  their  way  through  the  grounds.  "  I  un- 
derstand there  is  going  to  be  a  splendid  entertainment 
given  later  in  the  afternoon  under  the  supervision 
of  Sir  Richard  Hollowboy,  the  famous  Director  of 
Plastics." 

"  Yes,  it  is  indeed  too  bad !  "  assented  Beatrice. 

"  Well,"  continued  Dorothy,  "  I  did  my  best  to  get 
out  of  it." 

"  You  certainly  did,"  acquiesced  Beatrice,  "  but 
there's  no  escape.  Well,  don't  let's  mind!  What 
can't  be  cured  must  be  endured,  I  suppose !  " 

They  reached  the  highway,  stepped  into  their  vic- 
toriamobile  and  were  off.  And  thus  it  happened  that 
the  two  ladies  were  following  Mr.  Kearns  on  the 
highway  leading  back  to  the  palace. 

As.  for  Mr.  Kearns  he  traveled  back  at  a  rate  of 


312        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

speed  which,  unused  as  he  was  to  such  celerity  in  an 
open  vehicle  of  this  description,  suggested  to  him 
ideas  that  should  any  sudden  breakdown,  or  other  mis- 
hap occur  there  would  be  little  left  of  him  or  the 
vehicle  from  which  to  pick  out  the  tale.  He  experi- 
enced, however,  a  sense  of  buoyancy  and  exhilaration 
from  this  rapid  flashing  through  the  air.  He  was 
glad,  though,  of  the  wise  provision  which  divided  the 
Northbound  and  Southbound  roads,  thus  obviating  at 
least  any  possibility  of  collision. 

Without  accident  or  further  adventure  he  reached 
the  Palace  Park  and  springing  out  of  the  phaero- 
mobile,  he  ordered  the  man  in  charge  to  hold  himself 
in  readiness  for  the  return  journey  to  Eairoaks. 
Striding  rapidly  toward  the  military  quarters,  he  was 
within  a  few  steps  of  the  main  entrance  when,  to  his 
unbounded  astonishment,  he  saw  advancing  toward 
him  Captain  Stanley  Mortimer. 

"  How  is  it  you  are  here  ?  "  exclaimed  Mr.  Kearns 
in  amazement. 

"  I've  just  been  favored  with  an  order  of  release," 
said  Mortimer,  smiling. 

"  How  did  you  manage  it  ?  "  asked  Kearns. 

"  I  don't  quite  know,  except  that  the  order  was 
from  the  King,"  answered  Mortimer.  "  But  come 
this  way ;  I've  something  to  show  you." 

He  passed  his  arm  through  that  of  Kearns  and 
led  him  a  short  distance  away  from  the  military 
quarters  and  out  into  the  park. 

"  This  whole  affair  has  happened  in  a  most  cu- 
rious way,"  he  said.  "  A  few  minutes  ago  I  was 
notified  of  the  arrival  of  the  order  of  release  and 
at  the  same  time  this  note  was  given  me.  It's 
really  quite  curious !     Read  for  yourself !  " 

Kearns  took  the  paper  handed  to  him  and  read : 

"  When  these  lines   reach  you,  they  will  be  ac- 


EROM  BEHIND  THE  CURTAIN       313 

companied  by  an  order  for  your  release.  This  order 
lias  been  secured  by  a  true  and  devoted  friend,  who 
desires  to  see  you  at  once  for  the  purpose  of  con- 
veying to  you  information  which  it  is  of  the  highest 
importance  you  should  learn  at  once.  The  moment 
you  are  released  proceed  to  the  summer-house  on 
Antler  Hill,  where  you  will  find  this  friend  anx- 
iously awaiting  you.  You  ought  to  reach  there  by 
sixteen  o'clock  or  a  little  earlier." 

Twice  Mr.  Kearns  read  the  note  over  carefully 
and  then  paused  thoughtfully  for  some  moments. 

"  Well !  "  he  said  at  last. 

"  Well  —  what  %  "  exclaimed  Captain  Mortimer 
questioningly. 

"  What  are  you  going  to  do  ?  "  asked  Kearns. 

"  Why,"  exclaimed  Mortimer  in  some  astonish- 
ment, "  I'm  going  to  Antler  Hill,  I  suppose.  Why 
should  I  not  go  ?  " 

"  Because  I  scent  a  trap  of  some  kind !  "  replied 
Kearns  with  conviction. 

"  A  trap !  "  exclaimed  Mortimer.    "  You  do,  eh  ?  " 

"Yes!" 

"  Well,  I'm  astonished,"  exclaimed  Mortimer, 
"  but  I  do  not  know  that  I  should  hold  back.  If 
a  friend  awaits  me  there,  I  wouldn't  like  to  appear 
ungrateful,  and  if  it  is,  as  you  suspect,  an  enemy, 
I've  never  yet  hesitated  to  meet  my  enemies.  What 
makes  you  think  it  is  a  trap  ?  " 

"  Why  so  much  mystery  about  this  missive  ? 
Why  is  it  unsigned  ?  Why  should  this  friend  con- 
ceal his  name  from  you  ?  "  asked  Kearns  vehemently. 

"  Well,"  answered  Mortimer  musingly,  "  there  is 
some  force  in  what  you  say,  and  yet  one  can  imagine 
reasons  why  a  friend  might  not  sign  such  a  com- 
munication, especially  when  his  identity  is  about 
to  be  revealed  in  the  course  of  an  hour." 


314       THE  FIKST  AMEKICAN  KING 

"  You  say  the  order  of  release  was  from  the 
Ring?" 

"  Yes." 

"  Then  I  can  assure  you,"  continued  Kearns  earn- 
estly, "  there  is  something  wrong  about  this  whole 
transaction.  I  have  here,  as  you  see,  an  order  for 
your  release  given  direct  into  my  hands  by  the  King. 
I  came  here  in  all  haste  the  moment  after  receiving 
it.  I  am  convinced  that  the  King  has  issued  no  other 
order  of  the  same  kind  and  that  there  is  something 
wrong  in  connection  with  that  other  order  which  re- 
leased you." 

"  This  looks  indeed  strange !  "  admitted  Mortimer, 
with  a  serious  air. 

"  Furthermore,"  resumed  Kearns,  "  when  the 
King  gave  me  that  order,  it  was  entrusted  to .  me 
with  the  condition  that  I  keep  you  quietly  in  the 
background  until  the  King  received  you  in  audience 
and  judged  matters  for  himself.  I  accepted  the  order 
under  this  condition  and  I  feel  bound  by  it." 

"  That  entirely  alters  the  complexion  of  matters," 
declared  Mortimer.  "  I  would  not  willingly  by  any 
act  of  mine  place  you  in  a  false  position.  But  won't 
you  go  to  Antler  Hill  and  explain  to  the  person  who 
may  be  waiting  there  why  it  is  I  am  unable  to 
appear  in  person  ?  Any  danger  which  may  await 
me  would  surely  not  extend  to  you." 

"  I  would  only  too  gladly  go,"  replied  Kearns, 
"  but  I'm  ordered  to  return  to  the  King  as  soon  as 
I  have  you  in  readiness  for  the  coming  audience. 
I  don't  care  to  send  another  to  the  summer-house, 
though  I  am  most  curious  to  learn  who  may  be  the 
person  awaiting  you  there." 

"  And  so  am  I !  " 

"  Well,  don't  worry,"  retorted  Kearns.  "  Friend 
or  foe,  you  may  depend  upon  it  we  shall  discover 


FROM  BEHIND  THE  CURTAIN       315 

who  that  person  is  before  long.  As  you  know,  I 
have  had  some  experience  in  matters  of  this  kind." 

"  What  is  it,  then,  you  wish  me  to  do  now  ?  " 
asked  Mortimer. 

"  Accompany  me  to  the  palace,"  replied  Kearns. 
"  I  shall  leave  you  in  my  private  bureau  in  the 
Chancellerie  until  the  time  comes  for  your  audience 
with  the  King." 

"  I  am  at  your  disposition,"  answered  Mortimer 
simply. 

"  One  question  I  want  to  ask  you,"  said  Kearns. 
"  Have  you  communicated  with  anybody  since  your 
return  ? " 

"  With  no  one,"  replied  Mortimer.  "  I  was  nat- 
urally not  anxious  to  advertise  the  fact  of  my  being 
under  arrest." 

"  That  was  very  wise,"  remarked  Kearns.  "  Now 
let  us  go." 

They  accordingly  made  their  way  direct  to  the 
palace  and  entered  Kearns's  bureau  off  the  main 
room  of  the  Chancellerie. 

"  Now,"  exclaimed  Kearns,  "  I  invite  you  to  make 
yourself  as  comfortable  as  possible  here  until  audi- 
ence time  comes.  It  will  be  only  a  couple  of  hours 
or  so." 

"  Very  well,"  assented  Mortimer  cheerfully. 

"  More  than  this,"  continued  Kearns,  "  knowing 
your  propensity  for  running  into  adventures  of  va- 
rious kinds  and  in  view  of  my  promise  to  the  King, 
I  am  going  to  ask  you  to  pledge  me  your  word  of 
honor  that  you  won't  leave  this  room  during  the  next 
two  hours." 

"  Ah,"  demurred  Mortimer,  smiling ;  "  that's  a 
hard  promise  to  exact.  Who  can  tell  what  may  turn 
up  within  two  hours  ?  " 

"  Well,"  assented  Kearns,  "  I  will  allow  you  to 


316        THE  FIEST  AMERICAN  KING 

make  your  promise  with  the  qualification:  Except 
in  case  of  possible  life  or  death.  I  have,  then,  your 
word  ?  " 

"  Have  it  your  own  way,  since  you  insist,"  ex- 
claimed Mortimer.  "  Yes ;  you  have  my  word  that 
I  will  not  cross  the  threshold  of  this  room  within  the 
next  two  hours,  unless  it  is  a  question  of  possible 
life  or  death." 

"  Now  I  can  proceed  upon  my  errand  with  a  mind 
at  ease,"  said  Kearns,  with  a  satisfied  air.  "  Oh, 
by  the  way,  I  had  almost  forgotten !  I  have  a  mes- 
sage from  the  King  for  Lord  Ashley." 

As  he  spoke,  he  walked  to  the  door  of  communica- 
tion, pushed  aside  the  heavy  portiere,  opened  the 
door,  threw  aside  the  corresponding  portiere  on  the 
other  side  and  passed  into  the  main  room  of  the 
Chancellerie. 

A  moment  later  he  returned,  with  preoccupied  air. 

"  Nobody  there !  "  he  exclaimed.  "  It's  a  holiday 
and  everybody  has  taken  advantage  of  it.  Well,  I'm 
off  to  Fairoaks  now.  Within  two  hours  I  expect  I 
shall  be  back  and  —  so  will  the  King !  "  With  these 
words  he  hurried  from  the  room  and  away. 

After  Kearns's  departure,  Mortimer  strolled  to  the 
window  and  looked  over  the  park.  Then  he  stretched 
himself  out  comfortably  with  a  book  and  read.  He 
had  been  reading  but  a  very  short  time,  when  voices 
came  to  him  from  the  adjoining  main  room  of  the 
Chancellerie.  An  instant  later  he  sprang  to  his  feet, 
a  flood  of  color  flushing  his  face.  In  returning  from 
the  Chancellerie  to  his  bureau,  Mr.  Kearns  had 
failed  fully  to  close  the  door  of  communication  and 
now  only  the  two  portieres  intervened  between  the 
rooms.  Do  what  he  would,  Mortimer  could  not  but 
hear. 

More  distinctly   came  the  voices  to  him,    as  the 


FROM  BEHIND  THE  CURTAIN       317 

minutes  passed.  He  stood  with  strained  features  and 
eyes  ablaze.  Then  his  hand  flew  to  his  sword-hilt 
and  he  strode  forward.  Two  steps  he  took  and 
abruptly  halted. 

Merciful  God !  Why  was  he  thus  chained  here  ? 
Why  had  he  pledged  his  word,  except  under  stress  of 
possible  life  or  death,  not  to  cross  the  threshold  of 
this  room  ? 


CHAPTER  VIII 

IN    THE    CHANCELLEKIE 

"  His  Excellency,  the  Chancellor,  desires  to  see 
Miss  Brandon  upon  official  business  and  alone,"  said 
the  messenger. 

"  You  will  wait  for  me,  Trixy  ?  "  asked  Dorothy 
of  her  companion. 

"  I  have  a  letter  to  send  off,  dear,"  answered  Bea- 
trice, "  and  I  will  go  to  your  desk  and  write  it.  I 
suppose  you  will  be  back  to  me  before  I  have 
finished." 

"  Yes,  yes,"  assented  Dorothy,  with  preoccupied 
air,  as  she  turned  to  the  messenger  and  indicated  her 
readiness  to  follow  him. 

Lord  Ashley  received  her  in  the  main  room  of  the 
Chancellerie.  The  messenger  who  ushered  her  in 
withdrew,  and  they  were  alone. 

Lord  Ashley  advanced  with  deferential  courtesy 
to  receive  her  and  led  her  to  a  seat  at  the  head  of  a 
long,  highly-polished  table  in  the  centre  of  the  room. 
He  drew  up  a  chair  and  seated  himself  at  the  side  of 
the  table,  in  order  to  bring  himself  almost  face  to  face 
with  her. 

"  I  must  beg  your  forgiveness,  Miss  Brandon,"  he 
began,  "  for  having  thus  hastily  asked  your  attend- 
ance. I  trust  you  will  not  regret  too  much  having 
missed  the  pleasures  of  the  garden-party." 

"  I  confess,"  answered  Dorothy,  "  I  was  aston- 
ished upon  learning  the  urgency  of  your  summons 
and  quite  unable  to  guess  its  cause.     Even  now  I — " 

319 


320        THE  FIRST  AMERICAX  KING 

'  You  are  still  at  a  loss,"  rejoined  Lord  Ashler 
promptly,  as  she  hesitated.  "  It  may  be  summed 
up  in  two  words — official  business." 

"  Official  business !  "  repeated  Dorothy.  "  So  tho 
message  said.  But  what  possible  connection  can 
there  be  between  me  and  the  official  business  of  the- 
Chancellerie  ?  " 

"  It  does  seem  peculiar,  doesn't  it  ?  "  laughed  Lord 
Ashley  pleasantly,  "  but  that  is  precisely  what  I  am 
about  to  explain  to  you.  There  is  a  matter  regarding 
which  you  can,  perhaps,  furnish  me  with  some  infor- 
mation— information  which  has  only  an  indirect 
bearing,  no  doubt,  but  which  may  possibly  be  of  some 
value  to  His  Majesty's  Government." 

"  Indeed  ?    To  what  does  this  matter  relate  ?  " 

"  It  is  connected  with  the  recent  disappearance  of 
Captain  Stanley  Mortimer." 

Dorothy  started  and  perceptibly  changed  color. 

"  You  astonish  me !  "  she  exclaimed.  "  In  what 
way  can  I  possibly  assist  you  in  this  ? " 

"  You  remember  the  occasion  of  the  last  Court 
ball  ?  "  asked  Lord  Ashley. 

"  Yes." 

"  That  night  was  also  the  occasion  of  the  wound- 
ing of  Captain  Swords  and  of  the  disappearance  of 
Captain  Mortimer,  as  you  will  recall." 

"  Yes." 

"  The  last  known  appearance  in  public  of  Captain 
Mortimer,"  continued  Lord  Ashley,  "  was  at  the 
ball,  where  he  had  the  honor  of  dancing  with  you." 

"  Yes,  he  danced  with  me." 

"  After  which,"  resumed  Lord  Ashley,  "  you  both 
made  the  customary  promenade  and  conversed  to- 
gether." 

"  We  passed  into  the  royal  conservatory." 

"  So   that,"    said   Lord   Ashley,   with   a    pleasant 


m  THE  CHANCELLEKIE  321 

smile,  "  you  are  the  last  person  with  whom  Captain 
Mortimer  is  known  to  have  been  seen  on  that  event- 
ful night." 

"  I  was  not  aware  of  that." 
"  Such  is  the  case,  however." 

"  Well,  even  so,  what  then ?  " 

"Simply  this,"  replied  Lord  Ashley,  with  the 
same  pleasant  smile ;  "  it  has  been  deemed  advisable 
to  ask  you  if,  in  the  course  of  his  conversation  with 
you  that  evening,  Captain  Mortimer  permitted  any 
remarks  to  fall  which  would  tend  to  throw  light  upon 
his  subsequent  disappearance." 
Dorothy  paused,  hesitatingly. 
"  Was  he  not  engaged  that  night  upon  some  special 
service  for  the  King  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  Engaged  upon  special  service  for  the  King !  " 
exclaimed  Lord  Ashley,  with  a  mocking  laugh. 
k'  No ;  I  regret  to  say  that  he  was  engaged  upon  very 
different  service." 

"  I  don't  understand,  Milord." 
"  Then  I  will  make  myself  perfectly  clear,"  said 
Lord  Ashley,  with  emphasis.  "  Far  from  being  en- 
gaged in  His  Majesty's  service  that  night,  Captain 
Mortimer  was  conspiring  with  and  aiding  the 
enemies  of  the  King." 

Oh,  monstrous !  "  exclaimed  Dorothy  with  agita- 
tion. "  I  am  convinced  there  is  no  truth  in  this." 
"  I  would  that  I  could  join  you  in  this  belief," 
said  Lord  Ashley  bitterly,  "  for  the  sake  of  the  repu- 
tation of  the  army  in  general  and  of  the  Guards  in 
particular.  ^  Unfortunately,  the  proofs  in  possession 
of  His  Majesty's  government  are  conclusive.  Cap- 
tain Mortimer  has  been  led  from  the  path  of  his 
duty  to  King  and  Government — has  been  led  to  his 
ruin — by  yielding  to  temptations  extended  by  the 
King's  enemies." 

21 


322        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KDsTG 

"  I  am  convinced  there  is  some  mistake/'  replied 
Dorothy.  There  was  a  numb  sensation  in  her  brain 
and  at  her  heart,  yet  she  spoke  the  words  bravely. 

"  Mistake !  "  repeated  Lord  Ashley.  "  Alas,  no ! 
The  Government  has  in  its  possession  proofs  estab- 
lishing Captain  Mortimer's  connection  with  certain 
revolutionary  factions  to  which  he  has  given  infor- 
mation and  active  aid.  A  search  of  his  quarters  sub- 
sequent to  his  disappearance  revealed  the  presence  of 
plans  of  fortifications  and  schedules  as  to  the  dispo- 
sition of  His  Majesty's  forces  of  a  most  compromis- 
ing character." 

Dorothy  had  recovered  from  the  first  shock  of  the 
Chancellor's  disclosures  and  all  her  senses  were  now 
alert. 

"  It  does  not  seem  probable,"  she  said  slowly, 
"  that  a  person  about  to  disappear  would  leave  all 
these  compromising  matters  behind,  when  it  would 
have  been  so  easy  to  have  destroyed  them." 

"  Ah !  "  retorted  Lord  Ashley  quickly,  "  but  this 
disappearance  was  not  premeditated.  The  necessity 
for  it  arose  suddenly  and  in  an  unforeseen  manner." 

"  Indeed !  " 

"  Yes,"  continued  Lord  Ashley.  "  Captain  Mor- 
timer was  involved  in  the  various  scandalous  at- 
tempts which  have  been  made  at  times  upon  the  peace 
and  dignity  of  His  Majesty — attempts  involving  the 
depositing  of  threatening  and  seditious  documents 
in  the  royal  apartments.  Upon  the  occasion  of  the 
last  of  these  attempts,  Captain  Mortimer  had  reason 
to  believe  he  was  recognized  and  his  acts  discovered 
by  the  officer  on  duty  that  night ;  hence  the  attempted 
assassination  of  Captain  Swords  and  the  sudden  dis- 
appearance which  followed." 

Dorothy  sank  back  in  her  chair,  white  and  trem- 
bling. 


m  THE  CHANCELLERIE  323 

"  Ah !  "  she  exclaimed  with  emotion,  "  you  ac- 
cuse him  of  murder  as  well  as  of  treason !  " 

"  Such  are  the  facts  to  which  the  proofs  in  the 
possession  of  the  Government  point,"  answered  Lord 
Ashley  impressively. 

"  But,"  said  Dorothy,  gathering  her  courage  and 
fighting  on  bravely,  "what  possible  motive  could 
Captain  Mortimer  have  for  doing  these  things  ?  He 
is  a  soldier  with  a  brilliant  record ;  he  holds  an  en- 
viable position  in  the  army ;  why  should  he  do  these 
things  ?    What  motive  could  there  be  ?  " 

"  There  are  circumstances  and  temptations  which 
lie  so  far  apart  from  you  and  your  life,  Miss  Bran- 
don," said  Lord  Ashley  with  an  air  of  great  candor, 
"  that  they  are  difficult  to  explain  to  you,  and  it  is 
not  wonderful  that  you  should  not  understand  them. 
These  revolutionary  movements  are  backed  by  men 
of  large  means,  who  have  their  own  personal  aims 
and  ambitions.  In  addition  to  this,  there  are  the  sub- 
scriptions of  disaffected  masses  which,  when  lumped 
together,  run  into  vast  sums.  The  Beactionist  cause, 
I  can  assure  you,  does  not  lack  money." 

"I  follow  your  words,  but  I  don't  fully  under- 
stand their  import,"  said  Dorothy. 

"  I  will  be  more  explicit,"  rejoined  Lord  Ashley. 
"  You  asked  me  what  could  be  the  motive  for  Cap- 
tain Mortimer's  acts,  and  I  answer  you  by  saying 
that  there  are  ample  funds  at  the  disposition  of  these 
revolutionists,  who  do  not  hesitate  to  purchase 
treason.  Money — that  magnet  of  temptation  which 
has  led  astray  so  many  men — was  the  motive.  Cap 
tain  Mortimer,  like  many  other  officers  of  the  army, 
was  addicted  to  heavy  play ;  he  was  pressed  for  money 
and  it  was  with  money  that  he  was  debauched." 

"  Are  there  no  limits  to  the  calumnies — no  depths 


324       THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

to  the  infamies  charged  ?  "  cried  Dorothy  with  in- 
dignation and  despair. 

"  It  does  sound  infamous,"  replied  Lord  Ashley 
gravely,  "  so  infamous  as  to  seem,  to  an  upright  mind 
like  yours,  almost  incredible.  But  such  are  the  facts^ 
and  these  facts,  as  I  have  already  had  the  honor  of  ap- 
prizing you,  are  supported  by  proofs  in  the  posses- 
sion of  the  Government." 

"  But  so-called  proof  at  times  turns  out  to  be 
error,"  retorted  Dorothy. 

"  There  are,  it  is  true,  various  grades  of  proof," 
replied  Lord  Ashley  with  judicial  solemnity.  "  In 
this  case,  the  proofs  in  the  hands  of  the  Government 
are  convincing.  They  are  absolute  and  incontestable. 
There  is  no  error." 

For  one  brief  instant  Dorothy  sat  irresolute.  Here 
was  the  Chancellor  of  the  Empire — a  man  of  respon- 
sibility and  power — assuring  her  that  there  were  in- 
contestable proofs  of  guilt.  He  told,  with  judicial 
calmness  and  force,  a  story  detailed  and  circumstan- 
tial of  conspiracy  and  treason  and  the  motive  there- 
for. For  the  second  time  this  tale  of  passion  for  play 
had  reached  her.  What  was  she  to  believe  ?  What 
should  be  her  decision  ?  Ah !  the  answer  to  her  was 
easy ;  only  for  the  briefest  instant  did  she  hesitate ! 
How  false  the  first  accusation  had  proved !  Had  he 
not  looked  into  her  eyes,  in  the  gardens  of  the  King, 
and  had  she  not  felt  that  only  honor  and  truth  lay 
behind  his  refuting  words  ?  How  she  had  re- 
proached herself  then  for  her  lack  of  faith !  Never 
again  would  she  dishonor  him  with  one  thought  of 
mistrust.  Let  circumstances  be  what  they  would, 
let  suspicion  point  as  it  might,  never  again  would  she 
permit  herself  the  slightest  doubt!  She  raised  her 
head  and  looked  keenly  at  Lord  Ashley. 

"  During   this   interview,"    she   said,    "  you   have 


IE"  THE  CHANCELLERIE  325 

spoken  of  treason,  of  attempted  murder  and  of  mer- 
cenariness.  You  say  there  are  proofs  of  these  things. 
I  can  only  answer  you  that  I  am  convinced  these 
proofs  are  false.  Does  Captain  Swords,  for  instance, 
assert  that  it  was  Captain  Mortimer  who  fired  that 
shot  ? " 

"  Captain  Swords  did  not  see  his  assailant,  al- 
though his  assailant  doubtless  thought  he  did," 
answered  Lord  Ashley.  "  Besides,  Captain  Swords 
is  as  deceived  as  to  the  true  character  of  Captain 
Mortimer  as  others  have  been." 

"  You  will  have  to  count  me,  then,  among  the 
friends  who  believe  steadfastly  in  him  as  the  soul  of 
loyalty  and  honor !  "  said  Dorothy  with  spirit.  "  I 
don't  suppose,"  she  continued,  "  I  can  dissuade  you 
from  the  opinions  you  have  formed,  and  I  am  very 
sure  that  you  cannot  change  mine  on  this  subject.  It 
is  painful  to  me  to  hear  one  whom  I  respect  falsely 
accused,  and  I  don't  see  what  can  well  be  gained  by 
further  discussing  this  matter.  In  fact,  Milord,  I 
don't  quite  understand  why — why — this  interview 
was  sought." 

"  I  have  already  tendered  my  apologies,"  replied 
Lord  Ashley  gently,  "  and  explained  that  you  were 
the  last  person  with  whom  Captain  Mortimer  was 
seen.  The  Government  is  desirous  of  learning 
whether,  during  the  conversation  with  you  upon  that 
occasion,  Captain  Mortimer  permitted  any  remark 
to  escape  him  which  might  throw  any  light  upon  the 
matter  of  this  disappearance,  or  other  acts  of  his." 

"  Captain  Mortimer  indulged  in  no  such  remark," 
answered  Dorothy  briefly. 

"  But  you  have  already  said  that  he  told  you  he 
was  engaged  that  night  upon  some  special  service  for 
the  King,"  persisted  Lord  Ashley. 

*"  He  did  say  lie  was  engaged  that  night  upon  some 


326        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

special  service,  but  I  am  not  sure  that  lie  added  it 
was  for  the  King.  That,  I  think,  was  a  mere  in- 
ference on  my  part." 

"  And  a  very  natural  inference  under  the  circum- 
stances," replied  Lord  Ashley  with  warmth,  "  but  the 
assertion  was  false !  " 

"  I  know  nothing  except  the  bare  statement  made 
to  me,"  answered  Dorothy. 

"  Will  you  not  narrate  the  circumstances  which 
led  up  to  that  statement  ? "  asked  Lord  Ashley. 
"  Will  you  not  detail  the  entire  conversation  which 
took  place  between  you  ?  You  see,"  he  added,  "  there 
may  have  been  words  with  little  meaning  for  you, 
which  nevertheless  would  mean  much  for  the  officers 
of  His  Majesty's  Government,  in  view  of  the  facts 
which  they  know  and  the  clues  which  they  possess." 

Dorothy  hesitated  an  instant. 

"  I  have  said  to  you,"  she  replied,  "  that  no  such 
remarks  passed  between  us." 

"  I  have  explained  that  you  are  scarcely  in  a  posi- 
tion to  judge  accurately  as  to  this,"  went  on  Lord 
Ashley  inexorably.  "  Will  you  not  repeat,  for  the 
benefit  of  the  Government,  the  conversation  which 
occurred,  so  that  the  Government  may  judge  for 
itself  as  to  this  matter  ?  " 

"  No,"  replied  Dorothy  coldly.  "  The  conversa- 
tion was  of  a  private  character — one  with  which  the 
Government  has  no  concern.  I  have  assured  you  that 
no  remarks  such  as  you  seek  were  made.  Beyond 
this  I  will  not  go !  " 

"  Then  I  am  to  understand,"  said  Lord  Ashley  re- 
gretfully, "  that  you  prefer  to  render  possible  aid 
to  this  traitor  rather  than  to  the  King  and  Queen 
from  whom  you  hold  a  post  of  honor  and  whom  you 
profess  to  serve  %  " 

"  I  reject  the  charge  of  treachery  as  to  myself,  as  I 


IN  THE  CHAXCELLEEIE  327 

do  the  name  traitor  as  applied  to  Captain  Mortimer," 
replied  Dorothy  with  spirit.  "  Your  insinuation  of 
disloyalty  on  my  part,"  she  added  sadly,  "  is  unjust 
— undeserved.  I  serve  the  Queen  honestly  and  loy- 
ally. To  her  I  would  willingly  repeat  what  I  here 
refuse  to  say." 

"  Do  not  be  angry  with  me !  "  exclaimed  Lord 
Ashley  warmly,  drawing  nearer  to  her.  "  I  meant 
no  offense,  but  I  was  carried  away  by  my  feelings. 
It  distresses  me  to  see  you — whose  regard  would  do 
an  emperor  honor — place  trust  in  and  defend  a  rene- 
gade .and  traitor — a  scoundrel  who  has  been  false  to 
his  King." 

"  Ah !  "  exclaimed  Dorothy,  shrinking  back,  "  this 
is  terrible !  I  have  told  you  I  do  not  believe — I  do 
not  believe !  " 

"  Listen,  then,"  cried  Lord  Ashley,  pressing  still 
nearer,  "  and  learn  now  the  full  truth.  He  has  been 
captured  and  is  at  this  minute  a  prisoner — in  close 
confinement — in  the  military  quarters." 

"  Then,"  exclaimed  Dorothy  with  excitement,  "  he 
will  have  an  opportunity  of  speaking  for  himself,  and 
the  truth  will  stand  forth !  " 

"  He  has  spoken !   The  truth  is  out !  " 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  He  has  confessed — confessed  to  his  treason !  " 

"  Impossible — oh,  impossible !  "  cried  Dorothy 
distractedly. 

"  I  tell  you  it  is  so,"  continued  Lord  Ashley  vehe- 
mently, "and  still  more  will  I  tell  you.  As  a  reward 
for  this  confession,  which  has  implicated  others  and 
given  the  Government  much  valuable  information, 
and  also  to  save  the  Guards'  corps  from  the  shame  of 
having  harbored  a  scoundrel  and  a  traitor,  he  is  not 
to  be  made  to  suffer  the  penalty  of  his  crimes.   I  have 


328       THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

permitted  an  arrangement  to  be  made  for  his  escape, 
and  he  has  gladly  acquiesced." 

"  You  say  he  has  acquiesced  to  such  a  thing!  "  ex- 
claimed Dorothy  with  an  air  of  bewilderment. 

"  Yes,"  retorted  Lord  Ashley,  "  and  is  at  this  mo- 
ment on  his  way  to  some  place  of  security  and  obliv- 
ion. Now,  I  beg  you  to  listen  to  me,"  he  continued 
with  fervor.  "  I  beseech  you — I  implore  you — to 
put  from  your  mind  all  further  thought  of  this  man, 
whose  name  is  unworthy  of  mention  in  your  pres- 
ence. He  has  merited  death,  but  has  escaped  with 
shame  as  his  portion  henceforth.  Let  us  dismiss 
him  from  our  thoughts.  There  is  another  and  more 
honorable  matter  regarding  which  I  would  speak  to 
you.     Miss  Brandon — Dorothy — I  love  you  !  " 

"  Milord " 

"  Yes,  I  love  you,"  he  continued,  with  the  abandon 
of  a  man  carried  away  by  the  force  of  his  feelings, 
"  and  I  offer  you  a  union  which  the  proudest  woman 
in  the  realm  might  find  worthy  of  acceptance.  His 
Majesty,  the  King,  has  already  signified  to  me  that 
my  appointment  as  Lord  Chancellor  is  to  be  followed 
<hortly  by  my  elevation  to  the  Peerage.  In  fact,  I 
may  confide  to  you  that  the  form  of  such  title  has 
already  been  selected." 

"  Milord,  I " 

"  Nay,  hear  me  to  the  end,"  he  continued  with 
passionate  fervor ;  "  it  is  more  than  mere  title  which 
I  have  to  offer.  As  wife  of  a  Lord  Chancellor  who 
will  know  how  to  extend  the  influence  and  power  of 
his  high  office,  you  will  find  yourself  in  a  position  of 
social  supremacy  which  will  place  you  second  only  to 
the  Queen  herself.  At  a  word  from  you,  social 
careers  will  be  made  or  marred ;  at  a  nod  of  approval 
from  you,  a  fashion  will  spring  into  life,  or  be  set 
aside.     Men  of  the  world  and  men  of  the  Court  will 


m  THE  CHANCELLEKIE  329 

respect  and  fear  your  power,  while  women  will  fawn 
and  flatter  for  your  favor.  Kank,  title,  power,  in- 
fluence— all  these  I  offer  you,  and,  moreover,  bound- 
less devotion  and  immeasurable  love.  What  can  I 
give  more  ?  " 

He  paused  and  waited.  Dorothy  sat  with  bowed 
head  and  shifting  color  and  made  no  sign.  Could 
this,  Ashley  wondered,  be  the  silence  of  rejection,  or 
was  it  merely  the  hesitation  natural  to  maidenly  re- 
serve ?  Reared  throughout  his  life  among  soldiers 
and  statesmen  possessed  of  aims  and  ambitions,  him- 
self possessed  of  a  boundless  lust  for  preferment  and 
power,  Lord  Ashley's  tendency  was  to  regard  ambi- 
tion as  the  all-alluring  fetish,  the  resistless  lever,  with 
which  to  sway  human  impulse  and  human  action. 
Furthermore,  his  actual  experiences  in  his  immediate 
surroundings  had  tended  to  impress  him  with  the 
accuracy  of  this  theory.  What  he  had  offered  was 
sufficiently  brilliant,  as  he  had  said,  to  be  worthy  of 
the  acceptance  of  the  proudest  woman  in  the  land. 
ISTor  had  he  overstated  his  case.  He  was  really  in  a 
position  to  give  all  he  tendered.  She  would  surely 
not  refuse !    What  woman  would  ?    At  last  she  spoke. 

"  I  fully  realize,  Milord,  the  extent  of  all  you  have 
been  good  enough  to  offer  me,"  she  said,  "  and  I  ap- 
preciate the  honor  you  do  me.  I  am  glad,  too,  to 
learn  of  the  new  distinctions  which  await  you  and 
pleased  to  be  the  first  to  congratulate  you." 

"  And  you  accept  ?  "  he  cried  joyfully,  as  he  bent 
nearer  to  her.     "  You  will  say — yes  ?  " 

"  ~No,  no,"  she  exclaimed  hastily,  as  she  shrunk 
back ;  "  I  cannot — I  cannot — accept." 

"  You  —  cannot  —  accept !  "  he  cried  blanklv. 
"  And— why  ?  " 

She  remained  silent. 

"  Why  ?  "  he  repeated. 


330       THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

Still  there  was  no  answer. 
"  You  are  not  pledged  to  another  ?  " 
"  Surely  that  is  something  you  should  not  ask." 
"  But  I  do  ask  it,"  he  cried  vehemently,  springing 
to  his  feet,  his  face  pale  with  anger.  "  Do  you  think 
I  am  blind — that  I  cannot  surmise !    You  have  been 
bewitched  by  that  traitor  whose  crimes  I  have  laid 
bare  before  you.     In  spite  of  his  misdeeds  and  his 
shame,  you  still  cling  to  a  mad  infatuation,  a  wild 
hope,  instead  of  accepting  an  honorable  union.     It  is 
the   perversity   which  has   marked   and  marred   so 
many  of  your  sex  through  the  ages.    But  I  am  not  a 
man  to  be  thus  flaunted  and  put  aside.     This  silly 
infatuation,  this  foolish  love  of  yours  can  never  be 
realized,  for  it  is  given  to  one  who  is  dead !  " 

"  Dead !  "  repeated  Dorothy,  turning  pale  to  the 
lips.     "  What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  Ah !  I'll  tell  you !  "  said  Lord  Ashley,  beside 
himself  with  anger.  "  This  man  deserved  death,  but 
the  Government,  on  the  score  of  policy,  was  opposed 
to  the  notoriety  arising  from  his  public  trial  and  exe- 
cution. It  was  accordingly  decided  that  he  should 
be  afforded  opportunities  of  escape  and  that  he  should 
either  be  allowed  to  gain  his  freedom  and  hide  his 
perfidy  and  shame  in  some  obscure  corner  of  the 
world,  or  else  that  the  death  he  so  well  merited 
should  be  dealt  out  to  him  while  effecting  this  escape 
— in  other  words,  a  private  execution  of  justice  in 
place  of  a  public  one.  This  question  was  referred  to 
certain  officers  of  the  Government,  who  in  turn  left 
the  whole  question  to  me.  In  the  goodness  of  my 
heart,  I  wavered  and  delayed  my  decision  until  the 
last  moment,  making  the  execution  dependent  upon 
a  certain  signal  to  be  given  by  me.  At  this  very  mo- 
ment the  man  is  escaping.  His  life  depends  upon 
the  signal  which  I  shall  give." 


m  THE  CHANCELLEKIE  331 

"  But  this  is  murder !  "  cried  Dorothy  desperately, 
sj^ringing  to  her  feet. 

"  It  is  a  judicial  execution,"  said  Lord  Ashley 
sternly,  "  and  one  that  would  be  approved  by  every 
army  officer  and  every  loyalist  in  the  country  were 
the  facts  known." 

"  I  will  shout  this  infamy  broadcast,"  cried  Dor- 
othy, wild-eyed  and  gasping. 

"  Bah !  "  exclaimed  Lord  Ashley  with  sarcasm, 
"  your  utterances  will  be  known  merely  as  the  wild 
ravings  of  an  infatuated  woman !  What  will  they 
weigh  against  official  declarations  and  the  military 
reports  as  to  the  escape  and  what  followed  ?  Such 
utterances  will  simply  bring  notoriety  and  discredit 
upon  you." 

"  Have  you  no  mercy  ?  " 

"  None,"  he  answered  inflexibly.  "  Hear  me  now 
for  the  last  time.  That  instrument  against  the  wall 
yonder  is  a  sigmagraph.  A  touch  of  its  electric  but- 
ton causes  a  flash  of  light  to  appear  upon  the  reflector 
above  it,  which  is  transmitted  to  the  receiver  upon 
the  roof  of  the  military  quarters.  In  just  eight  and 
one-half  minutes,  sixteen  o'clock  will  sound.  If,  be- 
fore the  last  stroke  dies  away,  three  flashes  of  light 
are  cast  from  that  reflector,  mercy  will  have  prevailed 
and  the  traitor  will  be  permitted  to  make  good  his 
escape.    If  no  such  signal  be  given  he  dies." 

"  This  is  horrible — horrible !  "  repeated  Dorothy, 
aghast.  "  You  will  surely  show  mercy  and  not  hold 
back  that  signal !  " 

"  Only  upon  one  condition." 

"  And  that  is  ? "  cried  Dorothy  desperately. 

"  I  am  but  human,"  said  Lord  Ashley,  speaking 
rapidly,  "  and  to  purchase  my  happiness  I  will  forego 
meting  out  strict  justice.  In  the  palace  chapel,  at 
this,  very  moment,  is  the  royal  chaplain.    At  a  com- 


332        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

maud  from  me  he  can  be  in  this  room  within  two 
minutes;  within  two  more  the  words  can  be  spoken 
which  will  constitute  a  binding  ceremony.  The  bril- 
liant public  ceremony  can  come  later.  Speak  but  the 
word.  I  will  summon  the  chaplain  and — this  man 
lives.    His  fate  is  in  your  hands !  " 

"  No,  no !  "  protested  Dorothy,  "  I  cannot — can- 
not!" 

"  Then  he  dies  !  " 

Lord  Ashley  turned  aside.  He  drew  a  cigarette- 
case  from  his  pocket,  extracted  a  cigarette  and,  cross- 
ing the  room  to  a  side  table,  lighted  it.  Walking 
over  to  the  sigmagraph,  he  took  up  his  post  with  his 
back  turned  to  it. 

"  Four  minutes  only  are  left  to  you,"  he  said  om- 
inously, as  he  drew  out  his  watch. 

His  words  came  to  his  listener  as  an  electric 
shock.  She  roused  herself  from  her  momentary 
lethargy  and  despair. 

"  Will  you  not  be  moved  to  justice  ?  "  she  cried. 
"  Don't  you  see  that  what  you  ask  cannot  be  ?  I  could 
never  know  happiness — never  make  you  happy.  I 
should  forever  have  this  scene  before  my  eyes — this 
scene  of  blood — of  treachery !  " 

"  I  have  told  you  it  is  a  judicial  execution — none 
the  less  judicial  and  proper  because  justice  is  meted 
out  privately  rather  than  publicly.  High  affairs  of 
state  under  all  governments  not  infrequently  demand 
such  a  course — a  course  which  in  reality  shows  unde- 
served mercy  to  him." 

"  Mercy !  mercy !    This  you  call  mercy !  " 

"  It  is  the  onlv  mercv  I  will  show  him,  un- 
less  » 

"  Don't  say  this !  You  will  not  permit  this  wicked, 
treacherous  deed !     You  will  save  him !     You  will 


IN  THE  CHANCELLER1E  333 

give  the  signal — say  that  you  will  give  the  signal !  " 

"  Three  minutes !  " 

"  No,  no !  Don't  count.  You  drive  me  mad !  Is 
there  nothing  will  move  you  to  pity — nothing  turn 
you  from  this " 

"  I've  already  told  yon.     His  fate  lies  with  you !  " 

"  No,  no — not  that !  This  cannot — must  not  be  ! 
Anything  but  that " 

"  Then  it  is  you  who  condemn  him  by  your  own 
act!" 

"  My  own  act !  I,  who  would  gladly  die  to  save 
him  !  But  no,  it  is  not  my  act — not  my  act !  I  can- 
not— I  will  not  do  what  will  bring  horror,  misery, 
degradation !  " 

"  You  speak  of  a  union  with  the  Chancellor  of  the 
Realm  as  degradation  ?  " 

"  A  union  with  any  man  when  a  woman's  whole 
heart  and  soul  are  given  to  another  means  misery, 
degradation.  How  can  you  ask  it  of  me — how  your- 
self consent !  For  I  love  him — I  love  him — I  love 
only  him !  " 

"  Two  minutes !  " 

"  You  don't  realize — you  don't  understand !  I 
tell  you  no,  no,  this  cannot — this  must  not  be.  Any- 
thing else  you  ask,  but  not  that !  For  your  own  hap- 
piness spare  me — for  your  own  conscience — your 
own  future  peace,  save  him !  " 

"  Not  all  the  angels  in  heaven,  or  devils  in  hell, 
shall  turn  me  from  my  path !  You  are  sacrificing 
everything  to  a  woman's  whim.  Time  will  teach  you 
forgetfulness  of  this  folly  and — love !  " 

"  A  woman's  whim !  Ah,  the  wise  Chancellor  un- 
derstands so  little  of  women  that  he  thinks  them  mere 
butterflies.  But  I  say  to  you  that  when  a  woman's 
spirit  is  onee  profoundly  stirred,  she  becomes  more 
firm,  more  implacable,  than  the  sternest  man  among 


334       THE  FIKST  AMEKICAN  KING 

you  all !  Her  love  knows  no  measure,  no  reason,  no 
calculation;  her  hate  has  no  weakening.  Were  I  to 
become  your  wife,  I  could  never  forget  that  the  man 
I  adore  had  been  torn  from  me  by  force  and  fraud. 
My  thoughts  would  always  be  of  him ;  my  only  mo- 
ments of  happiness  those  when  I  closed  my  eyes  and 
cheated  my  senses  with  the  dream  that  I  lay  within 
his  arms.  The  honor,  the  rank,  the  titles  you  offer 
me,  would  be  nothing,  for  would  they  not  have  been 
bought  at  the  price  of  his — of  my — happiness !  And 
you — I  should  hate  you !  " 

"  Less  than  one  minute !  " 

"  Less  than  one  minute !  And  you  will  permit  thia 
crime!  You  will  let  him  go  to  his  death — my 
sweetheart — my  handsome,  gallant  sweetheart !  No, 
you  will  not !    You  are  too  noble,  too  generous !  " 

"  You  cannot  move  me !  " 

"  Do  you  not  see  that  I  shall  go  mad  if  you  kill 
him?  Say  that  you  will  give  the  signal — that  you 
will  give  the  signal !  " 

"  Your  last  moment  of  opportunity  is  rapidly 
passing.    Will  you  save  him  ?  " 

"  O  God— my  God !  " 

"  Hear !  the  hour  strikes !  " 

"  The  signal — the  signal !     Give  the  signal !  " 

"  Not  unless  you  pledge  yourself  before  the  last 
stroke  sounds." 

"  The  signal !  " 

"  Never !  " 

"A-a-h!" 

With  a  scream  she  turned  suddenly  and  ran  from 
him  to  the  little  table  upon  which  stood  the  electric 
lighter.  Over  her  shoulders  was  a  light,  loose  scarf, 
which  she  had  worn  as  part  of  her  garden-party  cos- 
tume. She  tore  it  from  her  and  thrust  it  into  the 
fin  me  of  the  electric  lighter.     In  an  instant  the  deli- 


IN  THE  CHANCELLERIE  335 

cate  material  had  caught  the  flames  and,  before  Lord 
Ashley  could  divine  her  intention,  she  rushed  to  the 
sigmagraph's  indicator  and  upon  its  sensitized  sur- 
face flashed  the  light  thrice ;  but  not  before  her  gown 
at  sleeves  and  bosom  caught  in  flame. 

Lord  Ashley,  recovering  from  the  first  shock  of 
surprise,  sprang  toward  her,  dashed  the  burning  scarf 
to  the  floor  and  with  a  few  rapid  movements  smoth- 
ered the  flames  at  work  upon  her  frock. 

"  What  have  you  done  ?  "  he  cried  staring  at  the 
injury  to  her  dainty  white  flesh.  "  Do  you  realize 
that  you  have  placed  your  life  in  peril  ?  " 

She  was  dazed  and  half  fainting  from  the  pain  of 
her  injuries,  and  he  supported  her  to  a  divan  at  the 
further  end  of  the  apartment. 

"  Do  you  realize  what  you  have  done  ? "  he  re- 
peated. 

But  despite  the  pain,  despite  the  fact  that  she  felt 
her  senses  were  leaving  her,  the  thought  of  Morti- 
mer's safety  was  still  uppermost  in  her  mind. 

"  The  signal — the  signal,"  she  moaned  hysterical- 
ly, "  was  the  signal  given  in  time  ?  Is  he  safe  ? 
Oh,  tell  me  that  he  is  safe !    See — see !  " 

A  shriek  broke  from  her.  She  sat  staring  straight 
before  her  as  one  seized  with  a  paralysis  of  fear. 

Lord  Ashley  perceived  the  look ;  there  was  no  mis- 
taking its  mingled  horror  and  fascinated  fear. 
Abruptly  he  turned  to  ascertain  its  cause. 

There  within  a  few  feet  of  him,  with  pallid 
features  so  distorted  with  rage  as  to  be  scarcely  hu- 
man, tall  and  majestic,  the  very  embodiment  of  fury, 
his  eyes  ablaze  with  the  sullen  fires  of  vengeance, 
stood  Captain  Stanley  Mortimer.  A  situation  releas- 
ing him  from  his  promise — the  question  of  life  or 
death  which    alone    permitted    him    to    cross    the 


336        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

threshold  of  that  room — had  arisen.  He  now  stood 
freed  from  his  pledge. 

For  a  moment  the  two  men  faced  each  other,  glar- 
ing into  each  other's  eyes.  Then  the  torrent  of  wrath 
surging  within  Mortimer  found  an  outlet  in  words. 

"  Scoundrel !  Liar !  "  he  hissed  between  his  set 
teeth. 

"  What !  "  cried  Lord  Ashley,  his  anger  kindling, 
as  fire  kindles  amid  straw.  "  You  dare  to  apply  those 
epithets  to  me — the  King's  Chancellor !  " 

"  It  is  as  man  to  man  that  we  now  speak,"  retorted 
Mortimer,  struggling  with  his  rage.  "  Take  your 
sword  and  defend  your  life !  "  He  pointed  across 
the  apartment  and  through  the  open  doorway  of  Lord 
Ashley's  private  bureau.  Against  the  wall,  amid  a 
panoply  of  arms,  could  be  seen  hanging  the  sword 
which  the  Chancellor  had  used  during  the  earlier 
days  of  the  Russian  war. 

"  I  refuse  to  fight  you,"  said  Lord  Ashley.  "  T 
shall  summon  the  guard  and  have  you  returned  to  the 
confinement  from  which  you  have  escaped.  Before 
you  can  claim  the  right  to  cross  swords  as  an  equal, 
you  must  first  clear  yourself  of  the  stigma  of  treason 
which  at  present  defiles  you !  " 

"  You  refuse !  "  retorted  Mortimer,  with  a  ges- 
ture of  contempt.  "  Your  refusal  will  avail  you 
little.  I  will  throttle  you  to  death  where  you  stand. 
What !  "  he  continued,  with  biting  sarcasm,  "  can  it 
be  possible,  that  the  uniform  of  the  Guards  has  at  one 
time  covered  the  breast  of  a  liar,  a  traducer  and  a — 
covmrd!  " 

As  this  final  word  left  Mortimer's  lips,  Lord  Ash- 
ley's face  in  turn  became  suffused  with  rage.  With 
all  the  faults,  even  crimes  into  which  his  ambition 
had  led  him  in  the  course  of  his  pyramidal  career,  one 
virtue  was  yet  left  him,  that  of  physical  courage. 


IN  THE  CHANCELLERIE  337 

With  a  snarl  of  rage,  he  turned  sharply  and  bounded 
across  the  room  to  where  his  sword  hung.  Back  he 
ran,  drawing  the  weapon  and  flinging  the  scabbard  to 
one  side  as  he  advanced  on  Mortimer,  awaiting  him 
with  drawn  blade  and  the  light  of  battle  in  his  eyes. 
Crouched  in  one  corner  of  the  divan,  moaning  and 
hysterical,  lay  Dorothy. 

The  swords  crossed  with  a  clash.  Mortimer  was 
widely  famed  in  the  service  for  his  skill  as  a  swords- 
man, but  upon  this  occasion  he  was  fairly  matched, 
and  rarely  could  there  have  been  seen  a  finer  ex- 
hibition of  swordsmanship.  There  were  lightning 
feints  and  thrusts  and  parries,  brilliant  grand  as- 
saults and  equally  brilliant  defenses  upon  either  side. 
The  black  eyes  of  Ashley  glared  into  the  blue  eyes  of 
Mortimer,  and  each  pair  of  eyes  flashed  forth  the 
murder  which  was  in  the  hearts  behind  them.  Back- 
ward and  forward  they  advanced  and  retreated,  feint- 
ing and  thrusting,  slashing  and  parrying.  At  first, 
the  rage  which  possessed  Mortimer  had  rendered  him 
less  cool  and  wary  than  was  to  be  desired,  and  so 
placed  him  at  a  slight  disadvantage.  Twice  Ashley 
managed  to  touch  lightly  and  these  wounds,  slight  as 
they  were,  served  as  a  vent  for  Mortimer's  over- 
wrought feelings  and  lent  to  him,  in  some  degree,  the 
necessary  coolness  and  caution.  He  could  feel  the 
blood  trickling  down  his  sleeve,  as  he  skillfully  par- 
ried a  fierce  assault,  The  tingling  of  the  wounds  in 
arm  and  shoulder  came  pleasurably  to  his  over- 
wrought spirit.  Suddenly  he  feinted  toward  the 
neck.  Up  flew  Ashley's  weapon  in  defense.  Then, 
swift  as  a  shaft  of  light,  Mortimer's  sword  arm  shot 
out  in  a  straight  and  deadly  thrust,  It  passed  just 
under  Ashley's  guard,  and  the  point  of  Mortimer's 
sword  went  home  just  below  the  median  line.  Such 
was  the  force  and  fury  of  the  thrust  that  Mortimer's 
22 


338        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

blade  ran  through  to  the  hilt.  With  an  upward  fling 
of  the  arms,  Ashley  crashed  backward  to  the  floor,  in 
a  heap. 


CHAPTER  IX 

THE  LAST   STAND   OF   THE   GUARDS 

A  murmur — faint  at  first — gradually  swelling 
until  it  merged  into  a  positive  cry  of  alarm !  A 
strange  confusion  without  the  gates,  which  rapidly 
communicated  to  the  grounds  within ;  the  sharp  blasts 
of  a  bugle;  shouts  of  command;  the  movements  of 
men ;  cries,  confusion — then  a  panic  among  the  guests 
and  a  promiscuous  dash  to  gain  the  shelter  of  the 
mansion !  It  all  came  with  the  vividness  and  rapid- 
ity of  a  thunderbolt! 

The  garden-party  at  Fairoaks  had  promised  well 
to  be  spoken  of  as  a  red-letter  social  event.  The 
guests  had  been  royally  amused.  The  presence 
of  the  King  and  Queen  had  lent  a  special  luster  to  the 
occasion  and  then,  too,  there  was  the  beautiful  Miss 
Cameron,  affording  opportunity  alike  for  observation 
and  for  gossip.  The  entertainment,  under  the  direc- 
tion of  Sir  Richard  Hollowboy,  Imperial  and  Royal 
Director  of  Pyrotechnics  and  Plastics,  had  been  a 
huge  success.  Sir  Richard  had  more  than  sustained 
his  high  reputation ;  upon  this  occasion  he  had  fairly 
eclipsed  himself. 

Among  the  features  of  Sir  Richard's  entertainment 
were  a  series  of  what  Sir  Richard  was  pleased  to 
term,  "  Fifteen-o'clock  Fireworks " — this  designa- 
tion being  presumably  intended  to  create  the  impres- 
sion of  fireworks  by  daylight.  The  "  daylight  fire- 
works," as  a  matter  of  fact,  consisted  of  certain  really 

339 


340       THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

wonderful  smoke  effects  in  the  air,  representing  ex- 
tremely interesting  and  well-executed  tableaux. 

One  of  the  most  colossal  reproductions  was  attract- 
ing the  interest  of  the  guests  when  suddenly  some- 
thing of  a  most  startling  nature  occurred.  From  all 
four  points  of  the  compass  there  appeared,  as  if  com- 
ing from  the  sky  itself,  a  number  of  strange  aerial 
forms,  which  massed  themselves  about  the  gigantic 
figure  in  the  air  and  hovered  directly  above  the 
grounds  of  the  garden-party.  Fantastic  forms  of 
varying  sizes  were  these  strange  apparitions — forms 
which  suggested  somewhat  the  outlines  of  a  ship,  or 
boat ;  but  then — who  ever  saw  a  ship,  or  a  boat,  float- 
ing in  mid-air?  Someone  whispered  that  they 
formed  part  of  the  entertainment;  yet  there  was 
something  too  material,  too  realistic,  about  them  to 
warrant  this  belief.  And  were  not  those  human 
forms  moving  about  in  them  ? 

Outside  the  gates  of  Fairoaks,  too,  strange  events 
were  occurring.  The  two  sentries  at  the  gates,  sta- 
tioned there  because  of  the  presence  of  their  Majes- 
ties, noticed  a  number  of  peculiarly  constructed  mo- 
biles suddenly  make  their  appearance  in  the  high- 
way. These  mobiles  stopped  before  the  grounds  of 
Fairoaks  and  the  foremost  advanced  as  if  to  make 
its  way  through  the  gates.  There  was  something 
suspicious  about  the  general  appearance  and  move- 
ments of  these  mobiles,  and  one  of  the  sentries 
promptly  challenged. 

His  answer  was  a  sudden  flash  of  rifle  barrels,  a 
point-blank  volley  and,  shot  through  head  and  breast, 
the  sentry  dropped  dead  in  his  tracks.  His  com- 
panion, apparently  unwounded,  hastily  dodged  be- 
hind the  high  stone  wall  and,  with  a  ringing  shout, 
gave  the  alarm  to  his  fellow-guardsmen,  comfortably 


THE  LAST  STAtfD  OF  THE  GUARDS     341 

ZSr:^  °f  ^  *******  lawns  . 

In  an  instant,   the  guards  were  up  and   doing. 

Through  the  gateway  they  swarmed  and  into  the  road- 

Zhth    £GJ  WGre  met  hZ  rifle  fire  from  the  mobiles, 
which,  however,  immediately  beat  a  hasty  retreat 

IS^T^  thGir  DUmber  wo™ded>  started 
»d  "J  Captains  Farquharsou  an'd  fi 

ham.  The  huge  aerial  shapes  which  had  been  hover- 
ing over  the  grounds,  now  made  movement  and  rapid- 
ly changed  their  positions  until  they  floated  over  the 
highway  immediately  above  the  pursuing  guards. 

Now  followed  a  scene  which  was  as  novel  in  its 
form  of  attack  as  it  was  effective  and  terrible.  The 
air-ships-for  it  was  now  plainly  to  be  seen  that  air- 
ships they  were-  began  raining  down  missiles,  in  the 
form  of  exploding  bombs,  upon  the  advancing  sol- 

ImTt-ll  H  ^  fiS8ileS  Struck  the  men  direct 

and  killed  them  outright,  while  others  fell  upon  the 

1*1    ^  ?VbG  highW^   and   eXPloded>    Irving 
death  and  destruction  in  wide  circles 

n  7SJ7  ^an/7mrite '  **">  l^way  was  filled  with 
a  long  track  of  dead  and  wounded  men,  and  still  the 
deadly  missiles  continued  to  rain  down.  Further 
pursuit  of  the  mobiles  was  obviously  impossible 
■Farquharson  and  Bingham  halted  their  inerT  Sev- 
eral volleys  were  fired  at  the  air-ships,  but  this  fire 
was  utterly  ineffective.  They  were  either  bullet- 
proof  or  out  of  range. 

Unless  the  officers  would  see  the  extermination  of 

rt!  eD  ire  ™mm£m,d  there  in  the  highway,  evidently 
the  only  thing  to  be  done  was  to  find  shelter  imme- 
diately forthe  men-the  shelter  of  the  mansion.  Be- 
sides, in  view  of  this  attack,  prudence  suggested  ral- 
lying the  guards  around  the  person  of  the  King 
l\e  command  was  accordingly  given  to  retreat,  in 


342      THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KIXG 

extended  order,  upon  the  house.  This  movement  was 
only  executed  with  further  loss,  as  the  air-ships  con- 
tinued to  follow  up  and  attack.  In  approaching  and 
passing  through  the  gateway  leading  into  the  grounds, 
the  men  were  necessarily  more  or  less  massed,  and 
here  the  loss  was  heavy.  Captains  Earquharson  and 
Bingham  stationed  themselves  at  the  approaches  to 
this  gateway,  awaiting  the  passage  of  the  last  man, 
in  order  that  they  themselves  might  be  the  last  to 
pass  through.  It  was  here  that  Captain  Farquharson 
fell.  His  brother  officer  bent  over  him,  in  the  en- 
deavor to  lend  him  aid,  but  one  glance  was  sufficient 
to  show  him  that  all  hope  here  was  past.  Then,  coolly 
as  if  on  parade,  he  made  his  way  through  the  grounds 
and  was  the  last  to  enter  the  house. 

His  first  act  was  to  make  provision  for  defense. 
He  stationed  his  men  upon  the  broad  main  stairway 
and  also  in  position  to  command  the  windows  at  the 
ground  and  first  stories  upon  all  four  sides  of  the 
house.  To  attempt  to  station  any  men  upon  the  roof 
was  obviously  useless,  as  they  would  be  destroyed 
from  above  by  the  air-ships,  which  had  been  the  fate 
of  the  men  in  the  highway.  His  wounded  he  dis- 
posed of  as  best  he  could,  and  the  royal  party  and  the 
guests  he  gathered  together  in  one  group  in  the  big 
drawing-rooms  on  the  second  floor. 

His  next  thought  was  of  those  outside  who  had 
been  wounded,  and  he  organized  a  small  corps  of  men, 
under  Lieutenant  Richmond  Dobson,  to  go  out  under 
a  flag  of  truce  and  bring  them  in.  This  corps  started 
out,  but  returned  in  a  very  few  minutes  empty- 
handed.  Lieutenant  Dobson  reported  that  the  air- 
ships had  strictly  respected  the  flag  of  truce,  but  at 
the  gateway  he  had  been  met  by  a  similar  signal  from 
the  mobiles.  The  person  in  command  of  this  party, 
who  wore  a  peculiarly-shaped  gold  star  upon  his  left 


THE  LAST  STAND  OF  THE  GUARDS    343 

shoulder,  had  informed  Lieutenant  Dobson  that  he 
could  not  be  permitted  to  proceed,  but  that  his 
wounded  would  be  cared  for.  The  attacking  party, 
he  was  informed,  had  ample  surgical  assistance  with 
them  for  this  purpose.  The  Lieutenant  had  then 
been  requested  to  return  to  the  mansion  and  bear  a 
message  to  the  officer  in  command  to  the  effect  that 
unless  an  unconditional  surrender  was  made  within 
five  minutes  an  attack  upon  the  mansion  itself  would 
be  begun. 

"  Oh !  "  exclaimed  Captain  Bingham  fiercely,  "  it 
looks  as  if  they  were  well-organized  and  well-pre- 
pared, but  we  are  at  least  under  some  shelter  here. 
Did  you  inquire  in  whose  name  this  command  was 
made  ? " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  And  what  was  the  answer  ?  " 

"  That  it  was  made  in  the  name  of  the  General 
commanding  the  First  Army  Corps  of  the  New  Re- 
public." 

"  What !  A  general  in  command — the  First  Army 
Corps ! "  muttered  Captain  Bingham.  "  That 
sounds  like  a  comprehensive  organization.  It  looks 
serious !  " 

At  this  moment  a  servant  of  the  house  approached 
with  word  that  His  Majesty  wished  to  see  Captain 
Bingham  and  hear  his  report. 

Captain  Bingham  accordingly  went  upstairs  and 
communicated  to  the  King  all  he  had  learned. 

'*  Have  you  audiphoned  to  the  palace  for  such  sol- 
diers as  are  there  ?  "  inquired  His  Majesty. 

"  It  would  be  absolutely  useless  to  do  so,  Sire," 
replied  Captain  Bingham.  "  There  is  but  a  compara- 
tively small  force  there,  and  should  they  attempt  to 
come  to  our  relief  they  would  be  exterminated  to  a 
man  before  they  reached  us.    Nearly  half  of  my  com- 


344:       THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

mand  was  either  killed  or  wounded  in  traversing  the 
short  distance  from  the  roadway  to  the  house.  What 
would  it  be  with  any  force  from  the  palace  attempt- 
ing to  approach  over  several  miles  of  ground  ?  " 

"  True,"  said  the  King.  "  Where  can  assistance, 
then,  be  obtained  \  " 

"  The  nearest  point  from  which  effective  aid  can 
be  sent,"  replied  Captain  Bingham,  "  is  from  the 
city,  and  I  have  already  audiphoned  to  the  army 
headquarters  there.  I  have  explained  the  attack, 
and  stated  that  we  are  besieged  and  have  requested 
the  immediate  dispatch  of  a  large  force,  which  has 
been  promised  me.  I  did  this,  as  it  seemed  to  me  to 
be  the  only  thing  to  do,  although  I  frankly  confess 
that  I  do  not  see  how  even  a  large  force  can  prevail 
against  an  enemy  they  cannot  reach.  Possibly,  how- 
ever, they  may  be  able  to  beat  off  the  air-ships  with 
heavy  guns,  though  I  am  not  sanguine  of  success." 

"  But,"  said  the  King,  "  it  will  be  some  time  be- 
fore assistance  can  reach  us  from  the  city." 

"  Allowing  for  everything,"  replied  Captain  Bing- 
ham, "  about  three  hours.  I  have  furthermore  coun- 
seled, as  a  measure  of  precaution,  that  no  attempt 
be  made  to  approach  here  until  after  nightfall.  With 
the  aid  of  darkness  and  a  large  force,  we  might  at 
least  hope  to  get  you,  Sire,  and  your  suite  safely 
away." 

"  What  is  it  they  desire — what  is  it  they  ask  ?  " 
questioned  the  King. 

"  I  know  no  more,  Sire,  than  I  have  already  re- 
ported to  you." 

The  King  reflected  a  moment. 

"  Send  out  to  them  and  inquire,"  he  commanded. 

Lieutenant  Dobson  was  sent  forth  once  more,  ac- 
companied by  a  private  bearing  a  flag  of  truce.  He 
returned  in  even  less  time  than  before.     The  answer 


THE  LAST  STAND  OF  THE  GUARDS  345 

he  bore  was  that  no  further  information  would  be 
furnished;  no  further  delay  granted.  Unless  the 
King  and  everyone  within  the  mansion  made  uncon- 
ditional surrender  within  three  minutes  after  the  re- 
turn of  the  flag  of  truce,  an  attack  would  be  begun 
forthwith. 

Captain  Bingham  reported  at  once  to  His  Majesty. 

"  Ah,  they  appear,  then,  to  know  positively  that 
We  are  here !  "  said  the  King. 

"  Evidently,  Sire,"  replied  Captain  Bingham. 

"  What  remains,  then  to  be  done  ?  " 

"  Nothing,  Sire,"  answered  Captain  Bingham, 
with  grim  determination,  "  except  for  the  Guards  to 
defend  this  house  and  those  within  it  while  one  stone 
stands  upon  another  and  while  there  is  one  man  left 
upon  his  feet!  " 

As  he  spoke  there  was  a  sound  of  rending,  of  tear- 
ing and  of  disrupted  masonry  on  the  eastern  side  of 
the  mansion. 

"  The  attack  has  begun,  Sire !  "  said  Captain  Bing- 
ham. "  I  would  ask  your  permission  to  return  to  my 
men."  And  with  a  bow  as  courtly  and  as  deferential 
as  if  he  were  standing  in  the  great  ball  room  of  the 
palace,  Captain  Richard  Bingham  backed  from  the 
royal  presence  and  returned  to  his  men. 

As  soon  as  he  reached  his  post  at  the  head  of  the 
main  stairway,  Captain  Bingham  quickly  perceived 
that  the  attack  had  been  renewed  by  the  air-ships  and 
that  it  was  directed  by  hurling  explosives  against  the 
eastern  wall  of  the  building.  So  powerful  were  these 
explosives  that  a  great  gaping  aperture  soon  ap- 
peared, stretching  from  window  to  window,  wide  and 
deep  enough  to  have  admitted  a  motor  of  the  largest 
type.  The  attack  was  then  shifted  to  the  front  of 
the  house  and  the  front  wall  blown  open  in  a  similar 


346        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

manner.     Then,  with  a  crash,  the  whole  of  the  great 
front  door  was  blown  in. 

The  soldiers  on  the  ground  floor  and  upon  the  main 
stairway  were  now  exposed  to  a  raking  fire  from  two 
sides  and  the  air-ships  were  not  slow  to  follow  up 
their  advantage.  They  hurled  their  explosive  mis- 
siles into  the  men  massed  upon  the  stairway  and 
with  rifle  fire  picked  off  individual  soldiers  at  win- 
dows and  upon  the  lower  floor.  The  soldiers  returned 
the  fire  with  spirit,  sending  volley  after  volley  at  the 
air-ships  as  they  appeared  through  the  great,  yawn- 
ing gaps  in  the  walls.  This  fire  seemed,  however,  ut- 
terly ineffectual  against  the  strong  sides  of  the  air- 
ships and  the  protecting  shields  thrown  up  around 
them.  Comrades  were  falling  fast  on  every  side ; 
the  air  was  filled  with  the  groans  and  the  cries  of  the 
wounded  and  the  dying;  the  men  were  growing  dis- 
heartened. Then  the  voice  of  Captain  Bingham  rang 
out  above  the  tumult : 

"  Guards,  stand  fast  and  die  like  men !  " 

A  hoarse  cheer,  despairing  yet  valiant — the  final 
testimony  to  the  native  valor  of  the  American  soldier 
— came  from  the  men  in  response  to  their  leader's 
words.  Yes,  they  would  die  like  men !  And  carbines 
were  replenished  with  fresh  determination,  and  fresh 
volleys  were  poured  in  upon  the  enemy. 

But  it  was  all  of  no  avail.  Their  efforts,  directed 
against  an  enemy  they  could  not  reach,  were  futile. 
Down  went  Lieutenant  Dobson,  the  last  of  the  sub- 
alterns yet  unscathed,  and  still  the  missiles  continued 
to  rain  upon  the  devoted  and  rapidly  diminishing 
band. 

The  terrible  devastation  going  on  was  not  unknown 
to  those  gathered  in  the  shelter  of  the  drawing-rooms, 
and  the  same  servant  who  had  come  to  him  before, 
now   crept  forth    to    Captain   Bingham's   side.     In 


THE  LAST  STAND  OF  THE  GUARDS  347 

his  liand  he  carried  a  large  pocket-handkerchief  of 
white  silk,  attached  to  the  end  of  a  stick.  This  he 
extended  to  Captain  Bingham. 

"  His  Majesty  directs  you  to  surrender/'  he  stam- 
mered, his  teeth  chattering  with  the  horror  of  the 
sights  about  him. 

Captain  Bingham  turned  upon  him  with  the  blaz- 
ing eyes  of  a  madman.  "  You  lie,  you  scoundrel !  " 
he  shouted.  "  You  have  misunderstood  His  Majes- 
ty's orders !  "  And  with  the  flat  of  his  sword  he 
struck  the  emblem  of  surrender  from  the  man's  hand, 
and  with  the  point  of  his  sword  at  the  man's  throat 
he  drove  him  back  to  the  shelter  of  the  drawing- 
rooms. 

And  now  the  stairway,  broken  and  demolished  in 
many  places,  was  slippery  with  blood  and  choked 
with  the  bodies  of  the  fallen.  The  rain  of  missiles 
had  ceased  and  had  been  succeeded  by  a  sharp  rifle 
fire  which  rapidly  picked  off  the  few  remaining  sur- 
vivors. Down  went  the  color  sergeant  at  Captain 
Bingham's  side.  The  Captain  stood  at  the  head  of 
the  stairway,  still  guarding  the  approach  to  the  draw- 
ing-rooms. He  had  been  struck  on  the  left  side  of  the 
head  by  a  flying  fragment  of  some  kind,  and  from  the 
wound  the  blood  trickled  down  his  pale  face  and  over 
his  uniform.     He  was  the  last  man  left. 

The  rifle  fire  from  the  air-ships  closed  entirely,  and 
through  the  demolished  front  there  surged  a  mass  of 
men — men  from  the  mobiles.  They  were  armed  with 
rifles  and  upon  their  left  shoulders  they  bore  a  white 
star.  A  golden  star  of  peculiar  formation  glittered 
upon  the  shoulder  of  their  leader,  and  he  carried  a 
sword. 

"  Surrender !  "  shonted  this  leader,  advancing  up 
the  stairway,  sword  in  hand,  followed  by  his  men. 


348       THE  FIRST  AMEKICAN  KING 

Captain  Bingham,  standing  grim  and  bloody  at 
the  head  of  the  stairs,  made  no  reply. 

"  Surrender !  "  repeated  the  leader.  "  Do  you  not 
see  that  your  men  are  all  dead  and  that  you  are 
ours  ?  " 

"  Curse  you,"  came  the  reply  from  the  guardsman, 
"  as  they  went,  so  will  I  go.  You  shall  never  pass 
while  I  live."  And  with  upraised  sword  he  stood 
blocking  the  way  to  the  drawing-rooms. 

The  leader  now  crossed  swords  with  Captain  Bing- 
ham, while  two  of  his  men  sought  to  creep  by  to 
right  and  left  and  either  attack,  or  capture,  the  Cap- 
tain from  the  side.  But  the  officers  of  the  guards 
were  all  brilliant  swordsmen,  and  Captain  Bingham 
in  that  last  desperate  stand  fully  vindicated  the  honor 
and  the  reputation  of  the  famous  Guards'  corps.  Be- 
sides, being  at  the  extreme  top  of  the  stairway,  he 
held  an  advantage  which  served  to  offset  the  odds 
against  him.  First  he  wounded  the  man  to  the  right 
and  an  instant  later  cut  down  the  man  on  the  left. 
Then,  Avith  a  quick  half-arm  cut  which  laid  his  oppo- 
nent's face  open  from  forehead  to  chin,  he  sent  the 
leader  reeling  backward  down  the  stairs. 

When  his  men  saw  their  leader  fall,  a  howl  of  dis- 
may and  rage  went  up.  There  was  a  quick  flash  of 
leveled  rifles  and  a  volley.  Captain  Bingham  rose 
to  his  full  height  and  for  one  brief  instant  his  form 
stood  erect  and  rigid.  He  raised  his  sword  high 
aloft  and  his  voice  broke  into  a  great  hoarse  cry — 
the  last  salute  of  the  last  of  the  Guards  to  the  cause 
he  served : 

"  Long  live  the  King !  " 

Then  his  sword-arm  dropped,  the  weapon  fell  clat- 
tering from  his  hand  and,  with  a  headlong  plunge,  he 
crashed  down  the  stairs  over  the  dead  bodies  of  his 
men. 


THE  LAST  STAND  OF  THE  GUARDS    349 

And  prone  upon  the  battle-swept  stairway  lay  the 
regimental  standard,  with  its  proud  motto :  "  We  die 
but  surrender  not !  "  True  to  its  standard,  its  motto 
and  its  traditions,  the  Imperial  Guard  had  perished 
to  a  man. 

With  a  shout,  the  victors  charged  up  the  now  un- 
defended stairs,  forced  the  drawing-room  doors  and, 
an  instant  later,  all  inside  the  house  were  prisoners 
in  their  hands. 

"Water!"  gasped  a  dying  guardsman,  with 
glassy,  upturned  eyes. 

A  slight,  graceful  figure,  clad  in  short  hunting 
costume,  the  head  covered  with  a  jaunty  little  hat 
ornamented  with  a  pert  red  feather,  bent  rapidly 
over  the  wounded  man.  Close  beside  her  hovered  a 
big,  broad  shouldered  young  fellow. 

"  Come  away,  Valerie !  "  he  cried.  "  This  is  no 
place  for  you."  But  the  girl  paid  no  heed  to  this 
admonition. 

"  Keep  still,  Jack.  Where  is  your  Captain  ?  "  she 
asked  eagerly  of  the  soldier.  "  Was  Captain  Morti- 
mer with  you  in  this  fight  ?  " 

"  Water !     Water !  "  gasped  the  wounded  man. 

"  I  am  getting  it  for  you,"  she  answered,  as  her 
fingers  worked  nervously  at  the  water-bottle  strap- 
ped at  her  side.  "  Answer  me — was  Captain  Morti- 
mer with  you  ? " 

"  Ko,"  painfully  replied  the  guardsman ;  "  he — 
was — not." 

She  thrust  the  water-bottle  between  his  eager 
fingers  and  rose  quietly. 

At  that  instant  a  soldier  of  the  King,  lying  severe- 
ly wounded  at  the  head  of  the  stairway,  roused  him- 
self from  his  lethargy  and  noted  the  onward  rush  of 
the  enemy.  With  the  desperate  determination  to 
strike  one  last  blow  in  the  cause  he  served,  he  raised 


350       THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

himself  upon  his  elbow  and  fired  wildly  down  the 
stairway.  Valerie  gave  a  little  cry  and  staggered 
backward,  her  left  arm  falling  limp  and  helpless  at 
her  side.    Jack  caught  her  in  his  arms. 

"  My  God !  They  have  killed  you,  Valerie,"  he 
gasped,  all  the  ruddy  color  dying  out  of  his  face. 

"  I — feel — very — faint,"  she  sobbed,  lying  heavy 
in  his  arms. 

"  Help!  "  shouted  Jack,  a  great  fear  and  despair 
tugging  at  his  heart. 

A  man  came  hurrying  toward  them.  He  was  one 
of  the  surgeons  attached  to  the  invading  corps. 

Lay  her  upon  the  ground,"  he  said  to  the  anxious 
Jack,  as  he  bent  over  her  and  proceeded  to  examine 
the  injury.  "Ah!"  he  continued,  "fortunately 
only  a  wound  in  the  arm,  but — she  has  fainted." 

A  small  group  had  by  this  time  surrounded  the 
surgeon  and  his  patient,  among  them  a  swarthy-faced 
man  who  displayed  every  evidence  of  poignant 
anxiety.  An  officer  evidently  in  high  command  hur- 
ried upon  the  scene. 

"How  came  this  girl  here,  Captain  Robert?" 
asked  the  officer. 

"  She  was  very  headstrong,  sir,  and  there  was  no 
holding  her  back,"  replied  the  swarthy-faced  and 
anxious  one. 

"  Let  her  be  taken  at  once  to  the  hospital,"  ordered 
the  officer,  "  and  as  she  is  so  headstrong  detach  a 
guard  to  take  her  and  keep  her  there." 

"  Do  you  think  I  can  safely  detail  you  to  this 
duty  ? "  asked  Captain  Robert  of  Jack. 

"  Aye,  aye,  sir,"  replied  the  still  pale  and 
trembling  Jack. 


CHAPTER  X 

THE  NEW  ERA 

"  The  King !  The  Guards !  They  have  been  at- 
tacked !  "  cried  Kearns  as,  breathless  and  panting, 
he  ran  into  the  Chancellerie. 

"  Attacked !  "  related  Mortimer,  standing  sword 
in  hand,  stern-faced  and  bleeding  from  a  wound  in 
the  arm.     "  Attacked  by  whom  ?  " 

"  The  air-ships — the  air-ships !  "  gasped  Kearns. 
"  But,"  he  exclaimed,  pointing  to  the  form  upon  the 
ground ;  "  what — what  is  this  ?  " 

"  One  who  has  met  a  rightful  doom !  "  answered 
Mortimer.    "  But  the  attack — tell  me  of  the  attack." 

"  I  was  on  my  way  to  the  King,"  said  Kearns,  in 
rapid  tones,  "  and  was  approaching  Fairoaks  when  I 
perceived  the  air-ships  and  ordered  the  phaeromobile 
halted.    I  watched  and  saw  it  all." 

"Saw  all  what?" 

"  They  had  driven  the  King — the  guests — the 
Guards — all  of  them  into  the  mansion,"  continued 
Kearns,  with  the  same  rapid  enunciation,  "  and  the 
air-ships  attacked  them  there.  My  God !  they  blew 
great  holes  into  the  side  and  front  of  the  house,  and 
through  these  holes  they  made  attack  upon  the 
Guards.  Then  I  saw  the  men  in  the  motors  come  up 
and  charge  into  the  mansion  and  I  knew  that  all 
was  over.  Then,  back  I  came  here  to  you  at  full 
speed,  but  as  I  reached  the  palace  I  looked  behind 
and  saw  that  I  was  being  pursued  both  on  land  and 
351 


352        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

from  above.     I  tell  you  they  are  hot  upon  us — in  a 
few  minutes  they  will  be  here !  " 

The  portieres  parted  as  he  spoke  and  Beatrice  ran, 
eager  and  excited,  into  the  room. 

"  We  are  attacked !  A  swarm  of  men  are  pouring 
into  the  palace  and  the  grounds.  Where  is  Dorothy  ? 
Oh  ! — oh ! — what  is  this  !  "  and  she  ran  to  the  figure 
lying  upon  the  divan. 

"  I  must  go  to  my  post,"  cried  Mortimer,  casting 
a  desperate  glance  toward  the  divan.  "  I  must  rally 
the  men  to  the  defense  of  the  palace !  " 

"  Too  late !  "  exclaimed  Kearns,  turning  sharply. 

As  he  spoke,  there  were  sounds  without  and 
through  the  portieres  and  the  main  door  of  the  Chan- 
ccllerie  a  number  of  armed  men,  with  stars  at  their 
shoulders,  swarmed  in,  an  officer  at  their  head. 

"  Surrender !  "  cried  the  officer,  as  his  eyes  fell 
upon  Mortimer's  uniform. 

"  Surrender ! "  repeated  Mortimer,  with  rage. 
"  How  dare  you  utter  that  word  in  the  King's  palace 
to  an  officer  of  the  King's  Guard  ?  Back,  you  horde 
of  rebels,  I  say,  or  I  will  cut  a  path,  through  you !  " 

From  behind  him  there  came  an  exclamation  of 
fear,  a  plaintive  appeal  to  him  to  stop,  but  he  heard 
it  not  and,  with  upraised  sword,  he  advanced  upon 
the  men  barring  his  passage.  The  officer  raised  his 
sword  in  an  attitude  of  defense  and  a  dozen  rifles 
instantly  flashed  into  position. 

"  Halt !  Do  not  fire !  "  came  suddenly  the  sharp 
command  from  the  rear  and  a  tall  and  commanding 
figure  forced  its  way  through  the  ranks.  An  instant 
later,  Mortimer  found  himself  confronted  by  Gen- 
eral Mainwarren. 

"  Do  not  fire !  "  repeated  General  Mainwarren  to 
his  men.  "  I  place  this  officer  and  all  these  here 
under  my  special  protection." 


THE  NEW  ERA  353 

"  But  I  cannot — I  will  not — avail  myself  of  your 
protection !  "  cried  Mortimer,  still  standing  with  up- 
raised sword.  "  I  will  force  my  way  through  to  my 
men,  or  fall  in  the  attempt !  " 

"  There  will  be  no  necessity  for  that,"  said  Gen- 
eral Main  warren,  gently.     "  Your  passage  shall  not 
be  barred  and  you  shall  be  free  to  go  where  you 
will.     But,"  he  added,  calmly,  "  it  will  be  useless  to 
seek  your  soldiers,  for  they  are  all  dead." 
"  Dead !  "  repeated  Mortimer  aghast. 
From  the  grounds  without  came  a  great  cry : 
"  Long  live  the  New  Republic !  " 
Before  General  Mainwarren  could  make  answer  to 
Mortimer's  exclamation,  a  file  of  men,  with  an  officer 
in  command,  invaded  the  room. 

"  A  wounded  guardsman,  sir,  and  his  companion," 
reported  the  officer,  saluting  General  Mainwarren. 
"  What  shall  be  done  with  them  ?  "  and  he  brought 
forward  Captain  Swords  and  Professor  Dean. 

"  Oh,  cousin,  cousin !  "  cried  Beatrice,  running  up 
to  General  Mainwarren,  all  excitement,  "  I  demand 
protection — special  protection  for  him !  "  and  she 
pointed  to  Captain  Swords. 

"  It  is  granted !  "  said  General  Mainwarren,  with 
a  smile.  "  His  companion,  likewise,  shall  be  pro- 
tected. We  all  of  us  owe  something,"  he  added, 
turning  to  his  men,  "  to  Professor  Dean  and  to  Cap- 
tain Mortimer." 

"  Long  live  the  New  Republic !  "  again  came  the 
cry  from  the  grounds. 

"  How  so  ?  What  do  you  owe  us  ?  "  exclaimed 
Mortimer  in  astonishment. 

"  To  Professor  Dean,"  said  General  Mainwarren, 
gravely,  "  we  owe  the  primary  invention  of  the  air- 
ship from  which  we  derive  our  strength ;  and  to  Cap- 
tain. Mortimer,  because  to  his  unexpected  escape  from 


354        THE  FIRST  AMERICAN  KING 

ns?  the  New  Republic  owes  its  birth  three  days  earlier 
than  was  anticipated.  Yes,  Captain  Mortimer,  your 
escape  precipitated  our  attack  just  three  days." 

"  Oh!  "  exclaimed  Mortimer,  blankly. 

"  I  think  you  are  needed  over  there,"  said  Beatrice, 
touching  him  lightly  upon  the  arm,  and  turning  her 
eyes  toward  the  divan.  "  As  for  me,  I  must  give  my 
attention  to  the  wounded.  How  sweet  and  cute  he 
looks  with  the  bandage  tilted  down  toward  his  left 
eye!"  And  she  walked  to  where  stood  Captain 
Swords  and  rested  both  hands  upon  his  arm. 

Mortimer  crossed  to  the  divan  where  Dorothy  lay. 
He  bent  over  her  until  their  lips  nearly  met  and 
whispered  so  low  that  none  other  heard  —  something 
which  brought  the  color  in  a  warm  tide  to  her  pale 
face. 

"  Yes,"  continued  General  Mainwarren,  with  fer- 
vor, "  we  owe,  as  I  have  said,  something  to  both  of 
these  men.  To-day  the  New  Republic  has  birth — a 
New  Republic  which  shall  give  men  that  equality 
which  can  never  be  found  under  a  monarchy  and 
which  shall  be  untainted,  please  God,  from  the  hid- 
eous evils  which  fastened  themselves  upon  the  Old 
Republic  of  our  forefathers  —  a  New  Republic  which 
shall  free  its  citizens  from  the  bondage  of  industrial 
slavery  and  shall  set  to  the  world  at  large  an  example 
of  higher  economic  conditions  and  a  higher  standard 
of  human  happiness.  Let  us  joyously  greet,  then, 
this  glorious  event !  " 

"  Three  cheers  for  the  New  Republic !  "  rang  forth 
from  the  men  gathered  about  their  General. 

From  the  grounds  without  came  the  answering 
cry : 

"  Long  live  the  New  Republic !  Long  live  the 
New  Republic !  " 

The  End 


The  Real  New  York 


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By  RUPERT  HUGHES  and  HY.  MAYER 


The 
Closed  Book 


By   WILLIAM    LEQUEUX 

Author  of  "  ZORADA,"  etc. 

A     STIRRING    tale    of    love   and  treas- 
ure,    founded     on     the    discovery    of 
an  historic    manuscript    which    reveals  the 
hiding    place     of     the    famous    jewels    of 
Lucrezia  Borgia. 


12mo,  Cloth,   $1.50 


